76ers pull off a miracle comeback to beat the Cavs.

76ers 114 - Cavs 106

What happened?

This game was a perfect display of the grit and toughness this Philly team has. Down 29 points late in the 2nd quarter, the 76ers still found a way to claw back and get a win. Led by the fantastic four of LeBron, Maxey, Embiid, and Brown, the 76ers get their 2nd win of the season, and their first at home. This is unacceptable from Cleveland’s perspective. They went up 29 points and then just settled, the same thing that happened in Game 1 last season. It was a promising performance from Donovan Mitchell with 32 points and 10 rebounds, but that was the only real standout performance from Cleveland’s side.

What does it mean for Philly?

If the 76ers weren’t already contenders or even favorites for a ring, they are now. They have shown all the qualities of a contender: star power, teamwork, toughness. This team has got it all. Philly are a team to watch out for to come out of the East. One thing that needs to be controlled is the turnovers, with 8 in the first quarter, which led to the deficit, as well as all of their starters playing 33+ minutes. Injuries may come back to bite the 76ers.

What went wrong for Cleveland?

Whatever problems became apparent against the Knicks in the ECF last season have not magically gone away in the offseason. Relaxing in the 2nd half against a team like Philadelphia is not the behavior of a true contender to come out of the East. Kenny Atkinson has some big decisions to make throughout the season.

Player of the Game:

Tyrese Maxey continues to be the catalyst of this 76ers offense, and today he showed it with 32 points on near 50% efficiency.

Bears 30 - Patriots 24

The Bears had a dominant first half, going up 20-7 before Drake Maye threw a 50-yard pass to Rhamondre Stevenson on the brink of halftime to keep the Bears in it. The Bears were still able to fend off Drake Maye and the Patriots’ comeback attempts to get a big TNF win at home.

Is Caleb Williams the difference maker?

Caleb threw for 308 yards and was a clear leader in these past few games to catapult the Bears to 5-2 and to keep them on the toes of the 5-0 Vikings. When Caleb was out, Case Keenum held down the fort for a couple of games, but the offense was clearly unsustainable. If the Bears want to win football games, they need Caleb Williams.

Was this the Luther Burden breakout game?

Luther Burden received for 130 yards, 4 receptions, and a touchdown. If you had Burden in fantasy, you should be jumping up and down. This was by far his best performance, and he has definitely established himself as Caleb Williams’s number one target. Expect more from Luther Burden in the next few games.

Philadelphia 76ers 114 - 106 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Oklahoma City Thunder 96 - 84 Denver Nuggets. Thunder continue to prove why they are the best team in the NBA.

New England Patriots 24 - 30 Chicago Bears

Both the Knicks and Celtics faced losses in game one of their season, and they both need a win tonight to bounce back. The Knicks come in as favorites (as the defending champion) but don’t sleep on Boston. They looked good for most of the game against the Pistons, and a big game from Tatum could definitely give Boston the advantage. Mitchell Robinson returns to play against his former team, which will be a fun matchup to monitor.

My Prediction:

Knicks win.

Yesterday I went 3-3 on my predictions, putting me at 13 correct and 1 wrong on the season. Let’s see if I can continue that good form.

NBA:

Bucks vs. Bulls.

Hawks vs. Hornets.

Mavs vs. Pacers.

Timberwolves vs. Magic.

Raptors vs. Wizards.

Heat vs. Pistons.

Rockets vs. Spurs.

Pelicans vs. Jazz.

Grizzlies vs. Warriors.

Lakers vs. Clippers.

Kings vs. Trail Blazers.