In a surprising turn of events, the Cleveland Cavaliers have lost their sole lead in the NBA standings for the first time this season, sharing the top spot with the Oklahoma City Thunder (both at 36-8). The team that brought the Cavaliers’ momentum to a halt? The Philadelphia 76ers, who snapped their own seven-game losing streak with a hard-fought victory.

Despite a stellar performance from Donovan Mitchell, who dropped 37 points, and a surprising 33-point contribution off the bench from Isaiah Joe, the Cavaliers couldn’t secure the win. A critical turnover by Joe in the closing moments sealed their fate, highlighting the team’s struggles in the absence of key player Evan Mobley.

On the other side, the 76ers showed resilience despite missing their star center, Joel Embiid, for the 10th consecutive game. Paul George led the charge with 30 points, while Tyrese Maxey added 29 points, proving that Philadelphia still has plenty of firepower even without their MVP candidate.