PHILADELPHIA — It was a night Jaylon Tyson will not soon forget.
The short-handed Cavs rallied back in the fourth quarter, stunning the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-115, on Friday night.
Another fourth-quarter comeback.
The Cavs were without second-leading scorer Darius Garland (right great toe soreness), Sam Merrill (sprained right hand), Dean Wade (knee contusion) and Max Strus (foot surgery).
They needed someone to step up.
Prior to tipoff, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson singled out Craig Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball and Tyrese Proctor — three extra ballhandlers who were set for an increased workload.
Each of them made the most of the opportunity.
But none more than Tyson — a career night for the No. 20 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Tyson finished with a game-high 39 points, including 20 in the second half, on 13 of 17 shooting and 7 of 9 from 3-point range to go with five rebounds and four assists in 38 spectacular minutes.
After a sloppy first quarter in which Cleveland coughed the ball up eight times — the only blemish during an otherwise dazzling offensive display, with the Cavs making eight of their first 10 shots, tallying 31 points and dishing out 10 total assists — the score was tied.
By the end of the first half, Philadelphia had taken control of the game, building a seven-point advantage.
After a third quarter played to a tie, where the Cavs got as close as three multiple times but could never quite get over the hump, they were still down by seven going into the fourth quarter.
It was the 25th time trailing after three this year.
Cleveland tied the game around the six-minute mark on De’Andre Hunter’s clutch triple that punctuated a 10-0 run.
Even though the Sixers answered right back — a 7-0 response — Cleveland took its first lead of the second half with 1:59 left.
Fittingly, it was Tyson with the go-ahead bucket, burying his seventh 3 of the night.
The Sixers went back in front nine seconds later — until Hunter’s driving layup that made it a one-point Cleveland advantage with 1:05 left.
After Evan Mobley split a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining, Philadelphia All-Star Tyrese Maxey tied the game with 8.1 seconds left on a driving floater.
Following the timeout, the Sixers tried to deny Donovan Mitchell, leading to Tyson taking the inbounds pass. The youngster drove baseline and made the biggest play of the game.
A pass.
Mobley threw down the two-handed game-winning dunk with 4.8 seconds on the clock.
Tyson was one of six Cavaliers in double figures. Hunter had 16. Mobley finished with 15. Mitchell tallied 13 to go with 12 assists and nine rebounds.
The Sixers were led by Joel Embiid who had 33 points. Maxey chipped in with 22.
Given what happened two nights earlier inside the same building, Cleveland knew what to expect. The Sixers were going to come out with more effort, energy and intensity. They did.
But the Cavs matched it.
And with a game that came down to one play, Cleveland made it. Tyson specifically.
It was his night.
**Up next**
The Cavs will return home for a marquee matchup with the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m.