Cleveland Cavaliers vs 76ers Match Player Stats: James Harden Leads Cavaliers to 115-101 Victory

The Cleveland Cavaliers vs 76ers match player stats tell a story of depth, efficiency, and defensive dominance as the Wine & Gold cruised past a shorthanded Philadelphia squad. 

On March 9, 2026, at Rocket  Arena in Cleveland, the Cavaliers overcame a sluggish opening to secure a convincing 115-101 victory in front of a lively home crowd.Facing a Sixers team missing Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe, Cleveland caught its rhythm late in the first period and never looked back. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers vs 76ers match player stats reveal a balanced attack led by James Harden’s 21 points, with six Cavaliers reaching double figures and the bench providing a massive spark behind Keon Ellis’s 19-point explosion.

Match Overview

Core Match Statistics Overview

Three-Point Shooting

• Cleveland connected on 16 triples at a 39% clip, with Keon Ellis (4-of-7) and Dean Wade (3-of-6) leading the long-range assault.
• Philadelphia managed just 11 three-pointers on 38 attempts, a 29% conversion rate that left them chasing the game.

Free Throw Efficiency

• The Cavaliers were nearly flawless from the stripe, knocking down 23-of-25 free throws for a staggering 92% clip.
• The Sixers left points on the table, converting only 12-of-18 free throws (67%).

Defensive Impact

• Cleveland swatted eight shots, with Evan Mobley accounting for three blocks in his second straight game with that total.
• The Cavaliers forced 14 Sixers turnovers while committing just 10 miscues of their own.

Period-by-Period Analysis

• 
  The Cavaliers caught fire late in the first quarter after a sluggish start, running out to a double-digit lead early in the second that set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
• Cleveland’s 31-22 third-quarter outburst effectively put the game out of reach, opening up what the NBA recap described as a “three-touchdown lead”.
• Philadelphia showed fight in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 35-28, but the deficit was too large to overcome as both teams emptied their benches with 3:30 remaining.

Cleveland Cavaliers Player Statistics

James Harden – 21 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

Harden led all scorers with 21 points on efficient shooting, converting all six of his free throw attempts while adding five rebounds and five assists. His floor generalship kept the offense flowing throughout.

Donovan Mitchell – 17 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST

Mitchell was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line and led both teams with six assists and a pair of steals. His playmaking and ability to draw fouls kept the Sixers defense on its heels.

Evan Mobley – 15 PTS, 8 REB, 3 BLK

Mobley was a force on both ends, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor and swatting three shots. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year continues to anchor Cleveland’s defense with elite rim protection.

Keon Ellis – 19 PTS, 2 REB, +25

Ellis led all reserves with 19 points and posted a game-high plus/minus of +25. His 4-of-7 shooting from deep provided a massive spark off the bench.

Dean Wade – 13 PTS, 10 REB

Wade recorded his first double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, knocking down three triples in the process.

Philadelphia 76ers Player Statistics

Quentin Grimes – 17 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST

Grimes led the Sixers with 17 points but was a team-worst -21 in plus/minus, highlighting the difficulty of carrying the offensive load without Philadelphia’s stars.

Justin Edwards – 14 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST

Edwards was efficient off the bench, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range, providing a rare bright spot for Philadelphia’s second unit.

Cameron Payne – 12 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST

Payne contributed 12 points and six rebounds but shot just 33% from the field, struggling to generate efficient offense against Cleveland’s length.

Adem Bona – 8 PTS, 7 REB

Bona was active on the glass with seven rebounds but offered little else, failing to record a block or assist in 26 minutes.

Statistical Leaders Summary

Why the Cavaliers Won

Balanced Offensive Production

Cleveland placed six players in double figures, with contributions coming from starters and reserves alike. The Cleveland Cavaliers vs 76ers match player stats reveal a team that didn’t rely on any single scorer, making Philadelphia’s defense impossible to key in on.

Elite Free Throw Shooting

The Cavaliers’ 23-of-25 performance from the charity stripe (92%) was a masterclass in free throw efficiency. By contrast, Philadelphia’s 12-of-18 mark (67%) left 10 points on the table.

Defensive Versatility

Cleveland recorded eight blocks and forced 14 turnovers while committing just 10. Mobley’s three blocks anchored a defensive effort that consistently disrupted Philadelphia’s offensive flow.

Bench Production

The Cavaliers’ bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves 45-34, with Keon Ellis’s 19-point outburst serving as the catalyst.

Why the 76ers Lost

Heavy Dependence on Role Players

With Embiid, Maxey, George, and Edgecombe all sidelined, Philadelphia asked too much of its supporting cast. Only three Sixers reached double figures, and the offense lacked the star power to keep pace with Cleveland’s balanced attack.

Poor Three-Point Shooting

The Sixers connected on just 11-of-38 three-point attempts (29%), a figure that doomed their comeback hopes. When a team is shorthanded, perimeter efficiency becomes even more critical—and Philadelphia comes up empty.

Defensive Breakdowns

Cleveland shot 45% from the field and drilled 16 three-pointers, with multiple Cavaliers finding open looks throughout the night. The Sixers’ defense consistently lost shooters in rotation, particularly Ellis and Wade.

Historical Context & Advanced Insights

Season Series Breakdown

The Cavaliers swept the season series with three convincing victories, showcasing their dominance over a Philadelphia team that struggled with health and consistency throughout the campaign.

Advanced Statistical Insights

The Four Factors tell a clear story of Cleveland’s efficiency:

The Cavaliers’ superior effective field goal percentage (54.8% vs 52.4%) and dramatically lower turnover rate (9.5% vs 15.5%) translated into a massive 14.8-point advantage in offensive rating. Cleveland’s ability to take care of the basketball while generating efficient looks proved to be the decisive factor.

Game Implications & Key Lessons

What This Means for Cleveland

• The Cavaliers secured their 40th win of the season, continuing their dominance atop the Eastern Conference standings.
• Dean Wade’s first double-double of the year signals growing confidence from a role player who will be vital in the postseason.
• The bench’s 45-point outburst, led by Ellis, provides encouraging depth as the playoffs approach.

What This Means for Philadelphia

• The Sixers’ lack of depth was exposed without their four injured stars, raising concerns about their ceiling if health issues persist.
• Philadelphia’s 29% three-point shooting is unsustainable for a team that needs perimeter scoring to compete.
• Defensive rotations must improve dramatically; Cleveland’s 16 triples came far too easily.

Key Lessons

• Free throw efficiency wins games: Cleveland’s 92% clip from the stripe was the difference between a close game and a comfortable victory.
• Depth matters: Six Cavaliers in double figures overwhelmed a shorthanded Sixers team that had just three.
• Defensive versatility is non-negotiable: Mobley’s three blocks and Cleveland’s eight total rejections disrupted Philadelphia’s interior game.
• Take care of the basketball: The Cavaliers’ 10 turnovers vs Philadelphia’s 14 created a six-possession advantage.
• Bench production changes games: Ellis’s +25 plus/minus was the highest on either team and reflected his immense impact.
• Three-point volume without efficiency is a losing formula: Philadelphia’s 38 three-point attempts at 29% were a recipe for defeat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Cavaliers vs 76ers game on March 9, 2026?

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 115-101 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.

What were James Harden’s stats in the Cavaliers vs 76ers game?

James Harden led all scorers with 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in 29 minutes.

How many points did Donovan Mitchell score against the 76ers?

Donovan Mitchell scored 17 points on 4-of-11 shooting, going a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line with 6 assists and 2 steals.

What were Evan Mobley’s stats in the March 9 game?

Evan Mobley recorded 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks on 7-of-12 shooting in 28 minutes.

Who led the 76ers in scoring against the Cavaliers?

Quentin Grimes led Philadelphia with 17 points, though he finished with a team-worst -21 plus/minus.

How did Keon Ellis perform off the bench?

Keon Ellis erupted for 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, with a game-high +25 plus/minus in 25 minutes.

What was the attendance for the Cavaliers vs 76ers game?

The game drew 19,432 fans to Rocket Arena in Cleveland.

Conclusion

The Cleveland Cavaliers vs 76ers match player stats paint a picture of a championship-caliber team executing at a high level against a depleted opponent. Cleveland’s balanced scoring, elite free throw shooting, defensive versatility, and bench production proved too much for a shorthanded Philadelphia squad missing its four best players.

While the 76ers showed fight in the fourth quarter, the game was effectively decided by Cleveland’s 31-22 third-quarter explosion and their relentless efficiency from the stripe. James Harden’s 21-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist line anchored the attack, but it was the collective effort—six players in double figures, eight blocks, and a +25 performance from Keon Ellis—that truly defined this victory.

As the Cavaliers push toward the postseason, performances like this demonstrate why they remain the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. For the 76ers, the absence of their stars exposed critical depth issues that must be addressed if they hope to make a serious playoff run.