Jan. 16, 2026, 9:36 p.m. ET

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers played host to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in a rematch from Wednesday’s contest looking for revenge. The Sixers took a tough loss to the Cavs and were looking to bounce back and get back in the win column on Friday.

The Sixers used a strong defensive effort along with the offensive dominance of Joel Embiid to build a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but they saw it all slip away as the Cavaliers rallied and handed the Sixers a 117-115 loss as Evan Mobley finished a dunk with 4.8 seconds left. Cleveland received 39 points out of Jaylon Tyson as he proved to be a problem for the Sixers to handle in this one.

Joel Embiid led the Sixers with 33 points and five rebounds. Tyrese Maxey added 22 points, five rebounds, and nine assists along with five steals, Paul George had 14 points and five assists, and VJ Edgecombe added 10 points. Quentin Grimes had 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 12 points.

Here are the player grades following the loss:

Tyrese Maxey: B-minus

The Cavaliers once again sent a wave of defenders towards Maxey every time he touched the ball. It started with second-year wing player Tyson who, to his credit, did a great job of harassing Maxey at the start by using his length and quickness while also being an offensive force for Cleveland. Overall, Maxey had another quiet game, but he played well defensively. He really dug in and bothered the Cavs on the perimeter and made an impact that way while others led the way on the offensive end for Philadelphia.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!VJ Edgecombe: B-minus

The Sixers needed Edgecombe to step up and give them something with the Cavs shading so much attention to Maxey, and he obliged. He knocked down an early 3-pointer before then putting the ball on the floor and attacking the basket. There was a tough stretch in the second quarte in which he committed a few mistakes, but other than that, he was very good in this one.

Paul George: B-plus

The energy and hustle that George brought to the floor in this one was impressive. He got off to a great start as he knocked down a corner 3, then stole an inbounds pass for a layup, and then knocked down a shot in the mid-range as well as make plays for others. After the fast start, George was focused more on the defensive end and making plays with his passing, but George had an impact on this one and gave the Sixers production in a number of ways. His buckets in the fourth quarter were important as ever.

Dominick Barlow: B

By watching Barlow in this one, it would be hard to believe that he left Wednesday’s contest with a back contusion. He was terrific on the defensive end and he was diving on the floor to make hustle plays to get extra possessions for the Sixers. His motor is fantastic and gives Philadelphia a serious boost.

Joel Embiid: A

The big fella came out firing in this one. Embiid was extremely aggressive looking for his shot against Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen and he was efficient with it as he was scoring in the mid-range as well as from the 3-point line which has been a struggle for him at times. He was terrific all night long as he was scoring at all three levels and made life tough both on Allen and Evan Mobley, as well as being a presence on the defensive end. These are the types of performances that provide hope for a deep playoff run for Philadelphia.

Quentin Grimes: A-minus

Grimes was a problem for Cleveland’s guards on the perimeter and he was in the right spots. Their guards made tough shots, but they were shots that you gotta tip your cap to. Offensively, it was a slow start, but he made two big 3-pointers to end the first half to create some separation for the Sixers. He also made some big defensive plays in the second half that led to buckets as he made a real difference on that end and he made some big shots as well.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: B-plus

The initial stint for Oubre showed his defensive chops. He did a good job on Cavs star Donovan Mitchell as he made life tough on him and he used his length to help Philadelphia have success on the defensive end. He didn’t do much offensively, though besides a turnover. Things changed for him in the second half as he was getting to the basket for big shots and he knocked down a wing triple. This was a solid game for Oubre on both ends of the floor.

Adem Bona: A-minus

The start for Bona was terrific. He was so energetic and helpful on the glass which is what the Sixers need against Mobley and Allen. He was fantastic as a rim protector as well as he rejected two shots in succession and allowed the Sixers to get an easy bucket the other way. He also had a rim-rattling slam after cutting down the lane.

Trendon Watford: B

The Sixers turned to Watford late in the first half and he immediately contributed with a floater in the paint and he helped with his ball-handling ability. He did some good things in his 10-minute stint out on the floor.

Jabari Walker: Incomplete

Once again, Walker played his behind off in his minutes off the bench. He gave the Sixers a lot of energy and was helpful both on the glass and on the defensive end. He missed some open looks on offense, but the fact that he was willing to take those shots is a big help. He only played four minutes