NBA Game Preview: Philadelphia Sixers (5-2) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)

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Venue & Game Details

Arena: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Tip-Off Time: 7:00 PM ET

Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Bally Sports Ohio, ESPN/League Pass

Injury Report

Philadelphia 76ers:

Joel Embiid – likely rest management (played heavy minutes earlier in the week).

Paul George – day-to-day (knee).

Dominick Barlow – day-to-day (elbow).

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Max Strus – out (foot surgery).

Darius Garland – day-to-day (toe).

Jarrett Allen – day-to-day (hand).

Sam Merrill – day-to-day (hip).

Key Player Matchups

Tyrese Maxey (PHI) vs. Donovan Mitchell (CLE): Both guards are averaging 25+ PPG early in the season. Maxey’s speed and Mitchell’s shot creation will dictate tempo.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHI) vs. De’Andre Hunter (CLE): Oubre’s perimeter shooting (42.5% from 3) vs. Hunter’s defensive versatility.

Frontcourt Battle: If Embiid rests, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and Larry Nance Jr. could dominate the paint against Philadelphia’s young center Adem Bona.

Recent Team Form

Philadelphia: Coming off a narrow 113-111 loss to Chicago, but Maxey dropped 39 points. The Sixers have won 3 of their last 4 overall.

Cleveland: Beat Atlanta 117-109 behind Donovan Mitchell’s 37 points and a season-high 20 made threes. The Cavs are 2-1 at home.

Team Records & Context

Philadelphia: 5-2, 2nd in Eastern Conference.

Cleveland: 4-3, 7th in Eastern Conference.

Both teams are early-season playoff contenders, with Cleveland looking to protect home court and Philadelphia managing star minutes on a road trip.

Series History

Cleveland won the 2024–25 season series 2-1.

Philadelphia has historically struggled in Cleveland, losing 4 of their last 6 visits.

Betting Trends

Philadelphia: 2-5 ATS in last 7 road games.

Cleveland: 6-2 ATS in last 8 home games.

Over: 4 of last 5 Sixers games have gone Over the total.

Head-to-Head: Cavs have covered in 3 of last 4 vs. Sixers.

Projected Score: Cavaliers 118 – Sixers 109

Game Odds

Philadelphia Sixers         236.5

Cleveland Cavaliers        – 10.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, November 4, 2025