Cavs drop fourth straight game

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

As Rod Thorn waited outside Cleveland’s locker room for coach Byron Scott to finish addressing his team, the Sixers general manager had a good idea what was being said in the postgame speech: How could the Cavs let recently-benched Sixers guard Jodie Meeks get a career-high 31 points?

“I don’t think anyone in the building expected Jodie to go for 31,” Thorn said. “But he played great tonight, didn’t he? Darned near broke the game open himself. But I tell you what. We’ll take that every night the rest of the way.”

In a division race as tight as the Atlantic, they might need it.

Meeks scored a career-high 31 points and Jrue Holiday had 19 to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

The Sixers romped without forward Andre Iguodala, who missed his second straight game because of left patella tendinitis. Meeks started in his place and made the most of his opportunity, making 7 of 10 3-pointers. Meeks was the second Sixer this season to reach the 30-point mark and his seven 3s were as many as he hit combined over the past six games.

“I just know I was open,” Meeks said. “I was relaxed and just shot. I haven’t been shooting as well. But I just tried to take good shots. Any time a shooter sees the ball go in the hole, it gives him confidence.”

Evan Turner scored 12 points for the Sixers, who moved a half-game ahead of Boston and back into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division.

Anthony Parker scored 14 points and Kyrie Irving had 12 for the Cavaliers, who dropped their fourth straight.

“Guys have lost some confidence,” Scott said.