The Sixers’ final third of the regular season got underway at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night and it went pretty much the same way the early portion went.
The Sixers suffered a 114-85 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Wells Fargo Center in their return from the All-Star break. The loss was the Sixers’ ninth in a row, while the Cavs won for the fifth consecutive time.
Turning point
The Sixers trailed 31-25 after one quarter. In the second quarter the Cavaliers outscored the Sixers, 33-18.
The Sixers were just 5 of 25 from the floor in the quarter. They also sent the Cavs to the free-throw line for 15 attempts, which all found the bottom of the net.
Follow the leaders
Tyler Zeller led the Cavaliers in scoring with 18 points to go along with a career-high 15 rebounds.
Fresh off his All-Star Game MVP award, Kyrie Irving scored 14 points in 24 minutes of work. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Anthony Bennett, registered his second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
NBA
Michael Carter-Williams scored 15 points for the Sixers. However, he had just one assist opposite seven turnovers. Thaddeus Young added 15 points, while Evan Turner scored 11 points and had six assists.
Stat-egic
The Sixers are finding it harder and harder to score. They are still averaging over 100 points per game for the season, yet they have managed just 85 points or fewer in three of their last four games.
Take a bow
C.J. Miles made 3 of 6 three-point attempts, bringing his season total from behind the arc against the Sixers to 17 for 29 (58.6 percent).
Miles is averaging 39.4 percent from downtown this season.
Injury update
Philadelphia native Dion Waiters hyperextended his left knee late in the second quarter after coming off a monster dunk. He left the game and did not return.
Waiters finished with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists in 14:32 of action.
What’s next?
The Sixers continue their five-game homestand on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs entered Tuesday night’s game against the Heat with a 32-22 record.
The Sixers suffered a 97-94 loss to the Mavs on Nov. 18. Monta Ellis led Dallas with 24 points, while Evan Turner scored a game-high 26.