CLEVELAND, Ohio — The hottest team in the Eastern Conference heads to Cleveland on Friday night. The Philadelphia 76ers, 8-1 and atop the East, take on the 4-4 Cavaliers in an NBA Cup group-stage game, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
It is the second meeting between the clubs in a little over two weeks. Philadelphia won the first one 114-106 on Oct. 22, a night when Tyrese Maxey and Donovan Mitchell each scored 32 points.
Cleveland enters sixth in the conference. The Cavaliers were strong a year ago, going 52-30 and 27-14 on their home floor while scoring 119.5 points a game, so Friday is a chance to get back on track against a rival that has already beaten them.
The night doubles as a homecoming for LeBron James, who signed with Philadelphia this offseason after weighing a move back to Cleveland. James spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers and delivered the 2016 championship, and he is 21-6 in 27 career games against them. The Sixers also traded for Jaylen Brown, adding both stars to a core built around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Cleveland is coming off a run to the East Finals, where it was swept by the eventual champion Knicks, and added wing Peyton Watson in a trade with Denver. Philadelphia, which went 45-37 last season, has opened this one with eight wins in nine games.
Both sides have injuries. Cleveland lists Nae’Qwan Tomlin as out with a back problem, while Jaylon Tyson (ankle) and Peyton Watson (hamstring) are day to day. For Philadelphia, Ariel Hukporti is done for the season with an Achilles injury and Dominick Barlow is out with a back issue.
The game is one of four each team plays in East Group B, a five-team pool that also includes the defending champion Knicks, the Heat and the Pacers. Only one quarterfinal spot is guaranteed to the group winner.
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