Three reasons the Sixers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers

A young but depleted Cleveland team simply outhustled the Sixers all game.

Sixers guard Seth Curry dribbles the basketball against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, February 27, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Published Feb. 28, 2021, 8:00 a.m. ET

The 76ers were outhustled by a Cleveland team that was down to nine players in the Cavaliers 112-109 overtime win on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center

Here are three reasons why the Sixers lost.

Lack of hunger

The hungrier team won. Even though the Cavaliers had a depleted lineup, they simply wanted it more than the Sixers. Coach Doc Rivers admitted afterwards that his team had no energy and said that Cleveland played much harder.

Cleveland had a 13-8 edge in offensive rebounds. Here is one of them with Isaac Okoro simply outworking the Sixers on the offensive boards and earning the basket. On the play, Joel Embiid and Danny Green were caught flat-footed.

Even in the overtime, when it appeared as if the Sixers should have been revitalized after being outplayed in regulation, Cleveland scored the first five points in the extra period and showed greater energy.

Transition defense

The Cavaliers had 26 fast break points. Cleveland got 17 of those fast break points in the first half when the Cavs jumped to a 56-47 lead. Granted, the Sixers did a better job in the second half and overtime, but the Cavs set the tone in the first 24 minutes.

Cleveland still had some key transition baskets in the second half such as this one by Collin Sexton. Among the fastest players in the league, Sexton beat the Sixrers down court for the transition basket.

Even while not in transition, the Sixers couldn’t stop Sexton from driving. He had 11 field goals and 10 of them were from four feet and in.

On that play Shake MIlton and Tyrese Maxey were caught too far in on the missed free throw. Seton easily got behind the defense. It seemed all night the Sixers had trouble keeping up with Sexton and Darius Garland, the impressive young backcourt for the Cavs.

Nobody to support Ben and Jo

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid combined for 66 points. The rest of the team combined for 43. Shake Milton was the only other Sixers double-figure scorer and he shot 3 for 8 while scoring 11 points.

With Tobias Harris out with a bruised right knee, the Sixers desperately needed others to carry the load and it didn’t happen.

A concern has to be the inconsistency of Seth Curry, who shot 1 for 13, including 1 of 7 from three-point range. Here is a quirky stat - Curry led the Sixers with a plus-7 rating.