The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to their best start in franchise history and the best start for any NBA team in nearly a decade.
Even better for the 12-0 Cavaliers, they might catch a break Wednesday night when they visit the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.
Not only did Cleveland rest on Tuesday while Philadelphia lost to the New York Knicks 111-99, but the Sixers will be shorthanded on Wednesday.
How shorthanded remains to be seen. The Sixers will definitely be without Tyrese Maxey (hamstring injury) and could also be missing Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (knee).
Embiid made his season debut Tuesday in the loss to New York, while George has played in the last five games after missing the first five. In either case, the absence of either player would spell bad news against the surging Cavaliers.
Donovan Mitchell starred for the Cavaliers in Monday’s 119-113 road win over the Chicago Bulls. He scored 36 points and shot 7 of 16 from 3-point range, with five teammates scoring in double figures.
The Cavaliers are the eighth team in NBA history to start the season 12-0 or better. The last team to go undefeated in its first 12 games was the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who went 24-0 en route to a league-record 73-win campaign.
The Sixers, meanwhile, haven’t had much to celebrate this season. They are 2-8, and while Embiid made his season debut Tuesday, he shot just 2 of 11 from the field for 13 points and grabbed only three rebounds in 26 minutes.
Embiid’s teammates would certainly be excited to see him on the court again. Rookie guard Jared McCain had a productive night playing alongside Embiid on Tuesday, registering 23 points for his second consecutive game with at least 20 points.
Regardless of which Sixers’ stars are in uniform, Mitchell and the Cavaliers will be ready.
