Sixers survive scare from Cavs

The Cavs put a valiant effort on the floor March 12, with Collin Sexton leading the team with 26points, but it wasn’t enough to beat the sixers on their home court.

Ben Simmons scored 26 points, Joel Embiid had 19 rebounds and made some big plays down the stretch, and the 76ers held off the Cleveland, 106-99.

Collin Sexton led the Cavaliers with 26 points, including a layup with 3:10 left that pulled Cleveland within one. Cedi Osman added 18 and put the Cavs ahead, 97-96, with under 3 minutes to go as boos rained down in Philly.

But Mike Scott responded with a 3-pointer to put the 76ers back ahead. And after Simmons made a free throw and Jordan Clarkson a layup for Cleveland, Embiid followed his own miss with a thunderous dunk to give the Sixers a 102-99 lead with under a minute left.

Embiid, playing in his second game after missing eight straight with a sore left knee, had a block on the other end and then made four straight free throws to seal the win as “MVP! MVP!” chants replaced the boos.

Embiid and JJ Redick finished with 17 points apiece. Simmons added 10 rebounds and eight assists.

One night removed from a surprising 25-point win over second-place Toronto, Cleveland, owner of the third worst record in the NBA, put a big scare into the third-place team in the East.

After shooting just 22 percent from the field in the first quarter to fall behind 24-12, the Cavs took a 38-37 lead midway through the second quarter on two straight 3-pointers by Osman. Playing against one of the league’s worst defenses, the Sixers had 14 turnovers in the first half, holding a slim 53-47 halftime lead.

Both teams gave key players planned days of rest: Jimmy Butler for Philadelphia and Kevin Love for Cleveland.

CHRIS SZAGOLA — ASSOCIATED PRESS Cedi Osman, left, shoots as the 76ers’ Mike Scott defends during the second half March 12in Philadelphia.