CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers couldn't have asked for a much better start to their season Thursday night. They dominated Philadelphia throughout the first half, built a 29-point lead, and appeared headed for an impressive road victory.
Instead, Cleveland suffered one of the worst collapses in franchise history, losing 114-106 after being outscored 69-37 in the second half.
The Cavaliers led 69-45 at halftime, but whatever had been working disappeared after the break. Philadelphia increased its defensive pressure, Cleveland's offense struggled to respond, and the 76ers started rolling down hill.
Three problems stood out in the Cavaliers' disappointing opening-night loss.
1. Turnovers Changed Everything
Cleveland's defense helped build its early lead by forcing Philadelphia into mistakes. The 76ers committed 14 first-half turnovers, giving the Cavaliers opportunities to score before Philadelphia could get its defense set.
That advantage disappeared in the second half.
The Cavaliers became the team struggling to protect the basketball, committing 15 turnovers after halftime as Philadelphia increased its pressure. Cleveland finished with 21 turnovers, repeatedly giving the 76ers opportunities to get back into the game.
Coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged afterward that Philadelphia's increased pressure and physicality caused problems his team couldn't overcome.
Cleveland had spent the first half taking advantage of Philadelphia's mistakes. In the second half, the roles were reversed, which only goes to show that momentum is a real thing.
2. The Offense Disappeared
The Cavaliers scored 69 first-half points and appeared capable of scoring almost at will. Donovan Mitchell led the way, while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen found success around the basket.
Philadelphia made adjustments after halftime, becoming more aggressive defensively and making it difficult for Cleveland to continue attacking inside.
Cleveland managed just 21 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth. After shooting 25-of-49 from the field in the first half, the Cavaliers made only 14 of their 38 attempts after halftime.
Outside shooting provided little relief. Cleveland finished 7-of-29 from three-point range, including just 2-of-14 in the second half.
Mitchell finished with 32 points, but even his production wasn't enough to overcome an offense that struggled to generate consistent scoring opportunities down the stretch.
3. Cleveland Had No Answer for Philadelphia's Comeback
Philadelphia deserves credit for refusing to give up, but Cleveland did little to stop the momentum once it shifted.
The 76ers opened the second half with an 11-0 run, cutting Cleveland's 24-point halftime lead to 13 before the Cavaliers scored their first points of the third quarter. Cleveland committed two turnovers during that opening stretch, allowing Philadelphia to quickly gain momentum.
The Cavaliers eventually settled down, but Philadelphia continued cutting into the lead throughout the third quarter.
By the fourth, Cleveland was struggling at both ends of the floor. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown repeatedly found ways to score, while the Cavaliers failed to respond with enough offense of their own.
Cleveland still held a 95-89 lead midway through the fourth quarter before Philadelphia took control. Once the 76ers moved ahead, the Cavaliers never regained the lead.
Atkinson and his players will have to figure out why their offensive execution deteriorated so badly and why they couldn't regain control after Philadelphia made its adjustments.
One Game, but Plenty to Fix
It's important not to overreact to one game in an 82-game season. Cleveland demonstrated in the first half that it has the talent to compete with a Philadelphia team featuring several established stars.
However, blowing a 29-point lead is difficult to dismiss as simply a bad night. The Cavaliers struggled with ball security, couldn't consistently score against increased defensive pressure, and allowed Philadelphia to dictate how the second half was played.
The good news is that Cleveland doesn't have much time to dwell on the loss. The Cavaliers return home Saturday to face Brooklyn, giving them an immediate opportunity to show that Thursday's collapse was an isolated performance rather than an early warning sign.
What's Next
The Cavaliers host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, October 24, at Rocket Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
