Cavs fall to Sixers as trade reports swirl

K.J. McDaniels #14 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes the charge on January 5, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. AFP

PHILADELPHIA, United States – With stars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving sidelined and trade reports surrounding Dion Waiters, the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers fell to lowly Philadelphia 95-92 on Monday.

Tony Wroten’s go-ahead layup with 9.9 seconds to play gave the 76ers their first home victory of the season.

But it was the Cavaliers who were in the spotlight thanks to trade rumors involving Waiters, who wasn’t in uniform on Monday.

Multiple media outlets reported Waiters is being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team trade that will also involve the New York Knicks.

The Knicks are reportedly set to send guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland. Center Alex Kirk and forward Lou Amundson, little-used Cavs reserves who are also reportedly part of the deal, also sat out the game.

James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is sidelined by back and knee trouble, while Irving sat out with tightness in his back.

The Cavs are also coping with the absence of Brazilian big man Anderson Varejao, who is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Kevin Love had 28 points and 19 rebounds for the Cavs, who nevertheless lost for the fifth time in six games.

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