Cavs at 76ers preview and gamethread

The Cavs will look to make it 13-straight wins to start the season.

The Cavs will have the rest advantage as they take on a struggling Sixers team.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (12-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-8)

Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

When: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 13

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio (previously Bally Sports), NBA League Pass

Line: Cavs -9.5

Expected Cavs starting lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley

Cavs injury report: Jarrett Allen – QUESTIONABLE (leg), Sam Merrill – QUESTIONABLE (wrist), Max Strus – OUT (ankle), Emoni Bates – OUT (knee)

Expected 76ers starting lineup: Kyle Lowry, Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond

76ers injury report from Tuesday’s game: An official injury report hasn’t been submitted. The Sixers are expected to be without Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) and Joel Embiid (second night of back-to-back)

Fear the Sword will be hosting a live stream watch party for select games this year on Playback. Join Jackson Flickinger and Tony Pesta as they react to all the action.

What to watch for

Getting to the rim

The Sixers have struggled to defend the rim. Opponents are converting 70.3% of their attempts in the restricted area (26th in the league) while Philadelphia’s defense is giving up the fourth most shots there. The Cavs like to get to get to the rim early and often. This Sixers defense should allow them to do so.

Keeping Drummond off the glass

The Cavaliers couldn’t contain Drummond on the glass the last time they faced him which resulted in a loss to the Bulls last February. He scored 17 points while providing 26 rebounds that game. Mobley and company will need to do a much better job of keeping Drummond in check this time around if they want to remain unbeaten.

Keeping their foot on the gas

The Cavs keep winning, but they haven’t put their best foot forward in their last two outings. Poor third quarters allowed both games against the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls to come down to the last few minutes.

The Sixers are in a bad place. They’re 2-8 and just lost to the New York Knicks in their opening NBA Cup game on Tuesday night despite Embiid returning to the lineup. They likely don’t come out of the gate strong all things considered.

This is the type of game you’d like to see the Cavs set the terms of engagement early so that it doesn’t come down to the last few possessions like it has in their previous two games.