Sixers face tough challenge against league-leading Cavs

As Jared McCain continues to impress and Paul George heats up, the Sixers have a tough night ahead of them against the 12-0 Cavaliers.

Joel Embiid is back. After missing the first nine games of the season as the Sixers fell to 12th in the Eastern Conference with a measly 2-7 record, Embiid made his return on Tuesday against the Knicks. Despite only scoring 13 points on 2-of-11 shooting in an understandably rusty return, it’s one step closer to the Sixers getting to full strength.

The Sixers are going to have their work cut out for them on Wednesday, though. Apart from being on the second night of a back-to-back, with Tyrese Maxey still ruled out with a right hamstring strain and Embiid likely having to hold back on his eagerness to play, the Sixers are up against the hottest team in the league.

The Cavaliers are absolutely rolling right now. They’re off to just the eighth 12-0 start in NBA history, sitting firmly atop the East. With the league’s best offensive rating (121.3), the eighth-best defense and a +11.4 net rating (2nd in the NBA), they’re mostly healthy — which is something that can’t be taken for granted in the league right now — and thriving. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are both putting up a highly efficient 20-plus points per game. The twin tower frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen is imposing as always, while Mobley is dominating and excelling with more touches and playmaking opportunities.

Handling all of that in-form firepower and solid depth on the second night of a back-to-back? Even if the Sixers were close to healthy, it would be a difficult contest.

There have been some positives from the Sixers’ last few games, though. Apart from Embiid’s return, there’s Guerschon Yabusele, who’s been one of the team’s better players to start the season and their best option at center so far. Apart from his effort and physicality on defense, the finishing and shooting he’s providing (40.5 percent on 4.2 attempts per game) gives the team a new level of space that Andre Drummond can’t provide at all. Yabusele is building some nice chemistry with Paul George, too.

That said, even if Allen is out as he’s questionable with a lower leg strain, Mobley’s size as a rim protector and finisher is still going to make it harder to utilize smaller lineups with Yabusele at center in the same way. We’ll see if Yabusele can keep rolling and perhaps benefit from being used to beef up some lineups at the 4 instead.

Jared McCain has also started to impress. He’s heated up over the last few games and put on a highly impressive show in the team’s win against Charlotte. The rookie dropped 27 points while showing off his three-point skillset off movement and on pull-ups, scored off some nifty drives, and came through with a huge defensive possession in the clutch to force a shot clock violation against LaMelo Ball. McCain was back at it against the Knicks. He scored 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including hitting four triples.

Getting McCain plenty of minutes in games like this may not only help lift up the team’s backcourt while Maxey’s out, but help give the rookie experience to succeed in a real role once the team is at full strength. He’s making a bold claim for a long-term spot in the rotation right now.

Embiid said after facing the Knicks that he felt more like himself after the first five minutes. He’ll obviously be keen to play against the Cavs, but we’ll likely next see him in action again on Friday against the Magic.

If Embiid is out, George having another hot shooting game sure would help if he plays. Nick Nurse said after playing the Knicks that he’s not sure about the availability of the two stars against Cleveland, and that they’ll both be evaluated in the morning before the game.

George has been making an impact in non-scoring ways with his playmaking so far, but he shined against the Knicks with a season-high 29 points and a 7-of-11 mark from three.

It’s hard to see these current shorthanded Sixers finding a way to win this one. But even if this game sends them to 2-9, maybe it can at least be an opportunity for guys like McCain to continue proving their worth, and for George to ideally keep heating up.

Game Details

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers