Honestly, if you turned off the TV when the Cleveland Cavaliers were down by 11 points in the fourth quarter last night, I can't even blame you. It looked bleak. But the short answer to who won last night's cavs game is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who managed to pull off a gritty 117-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
They didn't just win; they stole it.
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Cleveland led for maybe 10% of the entire game. They spent most of the night chasing Joel Embiid's shadow and trying to figure out how to stop Tyrese Maxey's transition sprints. Yet, when the buzzer sounded on Friday night, January 16, 2026, the Cavs walked off with a two-game series sweep in Philly.
The Jaylon Tyson Show Nobody Saw Coming
Look, we need to talk about Jaylon Tyson. Donovan Mitchell is usually the guy, right? But last night, Tyson decided to turn the arena into his personal playground. He dropped a career-high 39 points.
It wasn't just the volume of scoring; it was the efficiency. He went 13-of-17 from the floor. That’s essentially video game numbers. He hit seven triples. Every time Philly felt like they were about to pull away for good, Tyson would drift to the wing and bury a transition three to keep the Cavs within striking distance.
What’s wild is that Cleveland was playing short-handed. They didn't have their full rotation, but they had Tyson. And in the final seconds, he showed the kind of poise you usually only see from seasoned All-Stars. With the game tied, he didn't force a bad shot. He drew the defense, kept his eyes up, and found the open man.
The Game-Winning Moment
The actual winning bucket came down to Evan Mobley. After Maxey tied the game at 115 with a tough runner with about eight seconds left, Cleveland didn't call a timeout. They went fast.
Tyson drove, the Sixers' defense collapsed because, well, he had 39 points, and he slipped a pass to Mobley. Mobley hammered home a dunk with 4.8 seconds remaining.
Philly had one last gasp, but the Cavs' defense, which had been leaky for three quarters, clamped down when it mattered.
Why This Win Actually Matters for Cleveland
If you look at the box score, it's easy to see the 117-115 final and think "close game." But the underlying stats tell a story of a team that is learning how to win ugly.
- Ball Movement: Cleveland finished with 38 assists on 44 made baskets. That is absurd. It’s the kind of unselfishness that coaches dream about.
- Donovan's New Role: Mitchell had a "quiet" scoring night with 13 points, but he acted as the primary engine with 12 assists and nine rebounds. He was basically a rebound away from a triple-double while letting the hot hand (Tyson) take the lead.
- The Bench Factor: De'Andre Hunter was massive off the bench, chipping in 16 points, including a crucial layup in the final minute.
Philadelphia isn't an easy place to play. Joel Embiid was doing Embiid things, finishing with 33 points and living at the free-throw line (11-of-12). Tyrese Maxey added 22. On paper, the Sixers should have closed this out when Paul George hit a jumper to put them up by 11 with under nine minutes to go.
Instead, Cleveland went on a 13-2 run. They just refused to go away.
Breaking Down the Statistical Anomalies
It’s rare to win a game where you get outscored 32-15 in points off turnovers. Usually, giving up that many points on mistakes is a death sentence. The Cavs also got beat 25-12 on the fast break.
So how did they win?
The half-court execution was the difference. While the Sixers relied on individual brilliance from Embiid, the Cavs were surgical. They shot 50% from three-point range as a team. You hit half your threes, you’re going to be in every game, period.
What This Means for the Standings
With this win, Cleveland moves to 24-19 on the season. They are firmly in the mix for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, currently sitting at 6th. More importantly, they’ve proven they can beat the elite teams on the road. Taking two straight in Philadelphia—especially after a blowout win on Wednesday—shows a level of mental toughness that was arguably missing last year.
The Sixers drop to 22-18. They’re still dangerous, but they’ve got to be frustrated. Leading for 90% of a game and losing because you couldn't stop a rookie-contract player like Tyson is a tough pill to swallow.
Your Next Steps for Following the Cavs
If you want to keep up with this momentum, there are a few things you should keep an eye on before the next tip-off:
Check the injury report for the OKC game. Cleveland is back at home at Rocket Arena on Monday, January 19. They played short-handed in Philly, so seeing if the full rotation returns against a fast Thunder team is key.
Watch the Jaylon Tyson highlights. If you missed the game, go find the clip of his 33-foot transition three in the third quarter. It changed the entire energy of the bench.
Monitor the Eastern Conference tiebreakers. Because Cleveland swept this mini-series against Philadelphia, they now hold a crucial tiebreaker advantage if these two teams finish with the same record in April.
The Cavs are back in action Monday morning. For now, Cleveland fans can enjoy the fact that their team just pulled off the heist of the season.