Clarkson, Hood help Cavaliers hand 76ers first home loss

Jordan Clarkson scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, Rodney Hood had 25 point and the Cleveland Cavaliers stunned Philadelphia 121-112 on Friday night, snapping the 76ers' perfect home record.

Philadelphia entered as the NBA's lone undefeated team at home at 10-0, while the Cavaliers were 0-8 on the road with the worst overall record in the league at 2-14. What appeared to be a mismatch on paper was anything but on the court.

Colin Sexton added 23 points, Cedi Osman scored 20 and Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who had lost three in a row, including Wednesday's 109-105 home defeat to the Lakers in LeBron James' return to Cleveland. The Cavaliers played Los Angeles tough in that one and carried that mentality into Friday's game in Philadelphia.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Cedi Osman, right, of Turkey, looks to take the shot against Philadelphia 76ers' JJ Redick, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

Joel Embiid had 24 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia, which had won four in a row overall and 20 consecutive contests at home dating to last season. The 76ers' last home loss came last March 13, a 101-98 defeat to Indiana.

J.J. Redick scored 23 points and Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler had 22 apiece for the 76ers. Simmons added 10 assists.

The Cavaliers slowly extended their one-point lead to start the fourth. Larry Nance Jr.'s dunk made it 94-90 with 7:48 left, and Cleveland took leads of seven, eight, nine and 11 before increasing it to 12 on Clarkson's 3 from the right wing with 3:50 left. The advantage eventually grew to 15 points on Clarkson's layup with 1:48 when the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton, right, goes up for the shot past Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, of Cameroon, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

Despite what appeared to be lackluster play, there were signs that the 76ers would pull away earlier in the second half.

The 76ers took their largest lead on Simmons' layup that made it 79-74 with 2:53 left in the third quarter. At that point, it looked as if Philadelphia would start getting it together. But the Cavaliers finished the period by scoring 10 of the final 14 points to enter the fourth up 84-83.

Philadelphia came out sluggish to start the contest, and the Cavaliers took advantage by scoring the first seven points and growing their lead to 22-8 on Sexton's jumper with 4:08 remaining in the first. Philadelphia scored the first eight points of the second to pull even at 31 on Redick's 3-pointer 2 ½ minutes into the period. The teams stayed close for the rest of the half and went into the locker room tied at 54.

Cleveland Cavaliers' David Nwaba, right, shoots the ball while being guarded by Philadelphia 76ers' JJ Redick, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: Cleveland played its second game without J.R. Smith since Tuesday's announcement that the Cavaliers sent home the veteran guard, who has requested a trade. . G George Hill (sprained right shoulder) missed his seventh straight contest.

76ers: Philadelphia's record for consecutive home victories is 24, set during its 1983 championship season from Nov. 27, 1982-March 23, 1983. . G Markelle Fultz missed his second straight game following his agent's announcement on Tuesday that Fultz wouldn't practice or play until having his right shoulder examined. Fultz, who sat on the 76ers bench, is scheduled to see a specialist on Monday in New York. . Philadelphia native and former middleweight boxing champion Bernard Hopkins sat courtside.

Philadelphia 76ers' Wilson Chandler, top, puts up the shot with Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton, bottom defending during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

UP NEXT

Cavaliers: Host Houston on Saturday night.

76ers: At Brooklyn on Sunday.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)