Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Final Score & Over/Under Result — Mar 9, 2026

The fourth quarter's 63-point eruption proved too little for Philadelphia to overcome a deficit built over the first three quarters. Cleveland's balanced offensive approach in the opening 24 minutes—combining 100 points across the first half—established enough cushion that a 35-point fourth-quarter surge by the 76ers fell short. The Cavaliers' 115-101 victory landed the combined total at 216, nine points beneath the 225.5 market line.

James Harden led Cleveland with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Keon Ellis added 19 points and Donovan Mitchell contributed 17 points and 6 assists. For Philadelphia, Quentin Grimes paced the effort with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists; Justin Edwards and Cameron Payne chipped in 14 and 12 points respectively. The first three quarters yielded just 153 combined points (46, 54, and 53 respectively), reflecting defensive discipline that neither side could sustain in the final frame.

The result marked a departure from recent head-to-head tendencies—their last three meetings totaled 232, 240, and 253—and from Cleveland's season-long 114.2 scoring pace over its last 10 games. DAGGER's pregame lean to the over did not materialize, as the game's pacing never reached the threshold the market had priced. The Cavaliers' second-half output of 59 points proved sufficient to hold off Philadelphia's fourth-quarter push.