Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, left, dribbles past Philadelphia 76ers’ Robert Covington during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James had 30 points, 13 rebounds and six assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Philadelphia 76ers 113-91 on Monday night.
The three-time defending Eastern Conference champions won their eighth straight game. Dwyane Wade scored 15 points, and Jeff Green had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Joel Embiid had 30 points and 11 rebounds to pace the up-and-coming 76ers, who had won three straight and five of six.
James scored the first nine points on his way to 22 in the first half, helping Cleveland to a 53-45 lead by draining a 3 in front of Cleveland’s bench at the first-half buzzer.
The four-time MVP then had four points, including an emphatic dunk, and J.R. Smith hit three 3-pointers early in the third as the Cavaliers took a 14-point lead. Philadelphia got within five in the period, but the Cavaliers stretched the advantage to 86-73 entering the fourth.
Kyle Korver’s 3-pointer with 9:13 to play gave Cleveland a 94-77 lead.
Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons entered leading all rookies in scoring (18.5 points), rebounding (9.1) and assists (7.7), but he was hounded all game by Jae Crowder and managed just 10 points before exiting in the fourth quarter with a right ankle sprain. Simmons, who has turned to James for career and life advice, missed all of last season with a broken right foot.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Iman Shumpert returned after missing the last three games due to left knee soreness. Shumpert was scoreless in seven minutes.
76ers: Eagles players LeGarrette Blount, Malcolm Jenkins and Brandon Graham were seated courtside, and several other players watched from a box. … The 76ers were 3 for 28 from 3-point range, including 0 for 11 in the opening half.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Host the Heat on Tuesday night.
76ers: Close out a six-game homestand against Washington on Wednesday night.