Second-year guard Jaylon Tyson had a breakout game on national TV, torching the 76ers for 39 points while leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 117-115 win in Philadelphia on Jan. 16.
Tyson, the No. 20 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, set a new career high for a single game, topping the 31 points he scored in a double-overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers on April 13, 2025. But the 23-year-old only needed four quarters Friday night to establish a new personal best.
Tyson tallied 12 points in the first quarter and seven more in the second to give him 19 points at halftime. He came out of the break with 12 points in the third and closed the game with eight in the fourth quarter. In all he made 13 of 17 shots, including 7-for-9 on 3-pointers, and made all six of his free throws.
And, while he didn’t hit the game winner, he did have the game-winning assist – his fourth of the night – on Evan Mobley’s dunk with 4.8 seconds remaining. Tyson also added five rebounds as the Cavaliers (24-19) rallied from seven points down after three quarters, outscoring the Sixers (22-18) by 11 points in the final frame.
It marked the second consecutive win for Cleveland in Philadelphia this week. The Cavaliers routed the 76ers 133-107 on Wednesday, Jan. 14; Tyson scored 12 in that contest.
Tyson has started 23 of 38 games this season as the Cavaliers have dealt with multiple injuries, including to point guard Darius Garland, who was injured in Wednesday’s game. But Tyson’s big night against a conference rival could indicate that he is ready to assume an even bigger role as Cleveland makes a push to take a run at the top teams in the East.