Cavaliers End Sixers’ Streak Amid Tough Night for Embiid and LeBron in NBA Cup 2026

  • November 7, 2026

Luka Dončić’s candidacy for MVP received another enhancement during NBA Cup play this past Friday.

The star of the Los Angeles Lakers tallied a season-high of 53 points, significantly contributing to a 124-118 comeback victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, who held a lead of up to 16 points in the first half, only to see that margin diminish during a powerful third quarter.

Dončić hinted at that comeback near the end of the first half when he banked in a shot from approximately three-quarters of the court distance, which was recorded at 61 feet in the NBA’s play-by-play statistics.

This outstanding performance marked Dončić’s sixth game scoring 40 points or more this season, an NBA record, surpassing the next nearest competitors by four games. He also became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2012 to achieve 40 points in four consecutive games.

Moreover, Dončić accounts for two of the three 50-point games that have occurred in the NBA this season. He has scored no fewer than 37 points in his last seven outings.

East Group B is anticipated to be among the most fiercely contested groups in the 2026 NBA Cup. The Cleveland Cavaliers have positioned themselves well at the top of that leaderboard.

Cleveland commenced their NBA Cup journey with an impressive 19-4 run against the Philadelphia 76ers and effectively sealed the game with a 12-0 run at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth. Ultimately, the Cavs claimed a 119-95 victory.

The defeat ended a five-game winning streak for the Sixers, who now hold an overall record of 8-2 and are 1-1 in Cup games. Their only previous loss was to the Detroit Pistons during the second game of a back-to-back while missing Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe.

The Cavaliers played without their standout center, Jarrett Allen, who is sidelined due to a knee injury, a significant setback considering Embiid’s presence on the opposing team. Nevertheless, the former MVP had one of his poorest performances of the season, recording just 6 points on 0-of-9 shooting along with 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers.

Add to that LeBron James’ lackluster performance, where he managed only 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting, accompanied by 3 assists and 6 turnovers, and it was a tough outing for the Sixers, who were outscored 46-26 in the paint before James and the starting lineup departed the game for good.

Evan Mobley possibly played a role in that outcome, as he concluded the game with 22 points on 13 shots along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and his typical defensive presence. Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland offense throughout the night with 23 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds.

It wasn’t only Cavaliers players making shots during this contest.

  • Detroit Pistons (1-0, +16)

  • Toronto Raptors (1-1, +7)

  • Milwaukee Bucks (0-1, -14)

  • Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0, +24)

  • Philadelphia 76ers (1-1, -19)

  • New York Knicks (0-1, -5)

  • Indiana Pacers (0-1, -20)

  • Boston Celtics (2-0, +53)

  • Washington Wizards (1-1, +9)

  • Charlotte Hornets (0-2, -55)

  • Dallas Mavericks (2-0, +17)

  • Houston Rockets (0-1, -5)

  • Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0, +32)

  • Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0, +31)

  • New Orleans Pelicans (0-1, -6)

  • Los Angeles Clippers (0-1, -26)

  • Memphis Grizzlies (0-1, -31)

  • Golden State Warriors (1-0, +17)

  • San Antonio Spurs (1-0, +15)

  • Los Angeles Lakers (1-1, -11)

  • Portland Trail Blazers (0-1, -6)

  • Sacramento Kings (0-1, -15)