NBA fans buy into 76ers Rookie despite loss vs undefeated Cavs

On By Littum

All it took was a little honesty to understand that the Philadelphia 76ers’ chances of coming out of Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a win were slim.

The Sixers, coming off a Tuesday night loss against the New York Knicks, were set to miss a handful of games Wednesday.

As expected, Tyrese Maxey was ruled out of the game as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury.

While the other two All-Stars, Joel Embiid and Paul George, shared the court against the Knicks on Tuesday, they were held out of Wednesday’s game. The Sixers claimed that Embiid and George were both getting some rest due to knee injury management.

Typically, Andre Drummond would get the start in Embiid’s absence, but he was then added to the injury report, leaving him out with an illness.

Down with three starters and a key reserve, the Sixers rolled a starting five that featured Jared McCain for the first start of his career.

@PhillyUzi_: JARED MCCAIN IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE 2024 DRAFT CLASS

@AidanDoc__: Sacrifice the first 11 games, but you figure Jared McCain should be in the rotation and might be a star too…

@OfficialRomp: I have never been more wrong about a player than Jared McCain, this guy is unreal

@dan_olinger: 10 games into his career and defenses are already trapping and doubling Jared McCain at half court to get the ball out of his hands

@pickleman60: This is a great day for the jared mccain fanclub

On a struggling Sixers team, McCain has been a bright spot. He collected nearly 40 minutes of playing time Wednesday night against the Cavs.

With 26 shots from the field, McCain managed to produce 34 points. He achieved the first double-double of his career by dishing out ten assists.

McCain wasn’t expected to have a rotation role this early, but a shorthanded roster left Nick Nurse with no choice but to try him. Lately, McCain has made it hard to walk away from him, even when the roster is back at full strength.