Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 22 2026
Philadelphia has LeBron James now. Still sounds strange, doesn’t it? Twenty-three seasons wearing somebody else’s uniform, and here he is playing alongside Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid. The Sixers got their first win Tuesday night, beating the Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden. New York had its championship celebration, Philadelphia showed up and ruined the party.
Now Cleveland comes to town. The Cavaliers have plenty of talent themselves, and they’re not going to be impressed by the names on Philadelphia’s roster. Donovan Mitchell can score with anybody, James Harden is running the offense, and Cleveland has two big men who can make life miserable around the basket.
The Cavaliers visit Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Tipoff is at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. Philadelphia is favored by 4.5 points, and the total is 235.5. You can find more predictions in our free NBA picks.
Cleveland Cavaliers Have Enough Talent To Win This Game
Cleveland went 52-30 last season, and the Cavaliers are opening the new year with another team capable of making a run in the East. They swept Philadelphia in four regular-season meetings last year. I wouldn’t put too much money on that meaning anything Thursday. The Sixers have a completely different look now, and Cleveland has made changes too. Peyton Watson is one of the new faces, giving the Cavaliers another defender on the wing. That’s going to come in handy against Brown and LeBron.
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The Cavaliers have Mitchell and Harden handling the ball, which means Philadelphia can’t simply load up on one scorer. Mitchell can get hot in a hurry, and Harden still knows how to run an offense. Then there’s Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen inside. That’s a lot of size. Philadelphia has Embiid, but Cleveland can make him work at both ends. The Cavaliers don’t need to win a track meet here. They need to keep Philadelphia from getting easy baskets and make the Sixers earn their points in the half court.
Mitchell is still the guy I’d want taking the big shot. Harden can create opportunities, but Mitchell has that ability to score six or eight points before the other team figures out what happened. Mobley gives Cleveland a strong defensive presence, and Allen does the rebounding work. Watson should help against Philadelphia’s wings. There are a few injury concerns, including Sam Merrill’s elbow and Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s back. Khalifa Diop has also been dealing with a knee problem. Cleveland has enough depth to handle those issues, although I’d check the final report before betting.
Philadelphia 76ers Have A Lot Of New Faces To Figure Out
Philadelphia is 1-0 after beating New York 106-100. That was a good win, especially with all the attention surrounding LeBron’s debut. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Nothing spectacular by his standards, but he didn’t need to be spectacular. Maxey scored 28, and the Sixers played enough defense to hold the Knicks to 100. That’s what I’d be happiest about if I were coaching Philadelphia. Everybody knows this team can score. Can they stop anybody when it matters?
The Sixers have LeBron, Brown, Maxey, and Embiid. Four guys who are used to having the ball. That’s going to take some adjustment. Somebody has to give up shots, somebody has to set screens, and somebody has to be happy standing in the corner once in a while. That’s easier to talk about than it is to do. Against New York, Philadelphia managed 106 points. That’s fine when your defense is working. Cleveland has enough offensive talent to make things more difficult, especially if the Sixers start giving up open threes.
Maxey looked comfortable Tuesday, and that’s important. He scored 28 points and didn’t seem bothered by the new arrivals. Brown gives Philadelphia another scorer who can defend, while Embiid remains a problem for anybody trying to guard the paint. LeBron can still control a game without taking 25 shots. The Sixers have some injury concerns, including Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti being out. Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons have also been dealing with injuries. Embiid’s workload is always worth watching, particularly this early in the season.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers Picks and Predictions
Cleveland Cavaliers +4.5 (-110)
I’ll take Cleveland and the points. Philadelphia has a terrific collection of players, and the Sixers might be the best team in the East once everybody gets comfortable. But this is their second game together. There’s going to be some confusion, some possessions where two guys want the same spot, and probably a few stretches where the offense looks awkward. Cleveland has Mitchell, Harden, Mobley, and Allen. That’s not a team I’d be excited about laying 4.5 points against. The Cavaliers can score, they’ve got size inside, and they won’t be intimidated by Philadelphia’s new lineup. I think this goes down to the final couple of possessions.
Under 235.5 Points (-110)
I’m going under 235.5. That’s a lot of points for two teams with good defensive pieces. Philadelphia held New York to 100 Tuesday, and Cleveland has Mobley and Allen protecting the basket. The Sixers are still figuring out how to get everybody involved, and I don’t expect that process to be completely smooth after one game. Mitchell and Maxey could certainly turn this into a shootout. Both can score 30 without much warning. But I think we’ll see enough half-court basketball to keep the total under. Philadelphia 116, Cleveland 113.
Final Picks: Cleveland Cavaliers +4.5 (-110) and Under 235.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 21, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting lineups may change before tipoff.
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