Philadelphia has struggled with getting pundits to take it seriously this season, but with a 108-97 road win over the Cavaliers Thursday, it will be hard to ignore the side for much longer.
The 76ers gave a tremendous team effort with six players in double-figures and saw double-doubles from both Joel Embiid (17 points, 14 rebounds) and Robert Covington (10 points, 10 rebounds). The Sixers (33-27) never trailed in the game.
As good as the 76ers' performance was though, the biggest story to come out of the game was in the final seconds. Philadelphia big man Dario Saric threw down a breakaway dunk with the game already in the bag and Cavs guard Jordan Clarkson did not like it. He threw the ball at Saric, was ejected, and sparked a near melee between the two teams.
Clarkson was blunt about his feelings after the game.
"If anybody say different, that they wouldn't have did that, that they'd have did something different, or anything else, they lying," he told reporters. "Especially if it was at that (part) of the game. They know what's up. That's it."
READ: Spurs' Gregg Popovich ejected as Pelicans win seventh straight
Saric says he wasn't trying to embarrass Cleveland. "I was surprised," Saric told reporters of Clarkson's reaction. "We're NBA players. To be mad about something like that, for me, is a little bit weird, but I want to apologize to the organization, to them and to the fans."
Clarkson can seek his revenge when the 76ers and Cavaliers face off again April 6 in Philadelphia.
STUDS OF THE NIGHT
The Cavaliers really could have used Isaiah Thomas Thursday as he put up 29 points and six assists for the Lakers in a 131-113 win over the Heat.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 34 points and 17 rebounds in the Timberwolves' 108-99 loss to the Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard did him one better with 35 points for Portland.
DUD OF THE NIGHT
Heat center Kelly Olynyk went 0 for 5 with no points and just three rebounds in 13 minutes of the Heat's loss.
HIGHLIGHT
Kings rookie De'Aaron Fox certainly has a flair for the dramatic, and his runner with less than two seconds left sent Sacramento's matchup with the Nets into overtime.
WHAT'S NEXT
Pacers (34-27) at Bucks (33-28) — The Eastern Conference playoff race is incredibly tight as just 4 1/2 games separate the Cavs in the third spot and the Heat in the eighth. The Pacers and Bucks are separated by just one game and every night matters down the stretch.
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