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Zeller and Cavs pound Sixers

Feb 19, 2014 - 4:30 AM Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Tyler Zeller scored a season-high 18 points and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers continued where they left off before the weekend break, with an easy 114-85 drubbing of the lowly Philadelphia 76ers.

Kyrie Irving, fresh off his MVP performance in Sunday's All-Star Game, was one of seven Cavaliers to score in double figures as the club rolled to its fifth consecutive victory.

Irving provided 14 points, Luol Deng chipped in with 13 and Tristan Thompson and Anthony Bennett each recorded double-doubles for the victors.

"You give the guys in the locker room credit. They've done a heckuva job throughout the course of the year. It's been a year of some ups and some downs and our guys just keep fighting," Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown said.

The Sixers were never in contention from the opening tip. They have lost nine in a row -- their longest skid since the 2009-10 campaign -- and have dropped eight straight at home for the first time in a single season since 1996-97.

Thaddeus Young and Michael-Carter Williams led Philadelphia with 15 points apiece.

"I think that when you're losing games and at this stage of the year, there is a beat down effect that we're trying to avoid," Sixers coach Brett Brown said.

A Jarrett Jack floater just over five minutes in already had Cleveland ahead by double digits, 18-8, and the closest the Sixers got from there was five.

Young scored off an offensive rebound with 8:41 remaining in the half to bring Philly within 38-33, and Cleveland answered with 13 of the next 15 points to go in front by 16.

Cleveland's Dion Waiters, who grew up in Philadelphia, recorded 13 points in the half but hyperextended his left knee when he threw down a tomahawk slam over Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen in the final minute. He limped down the court before being looked at by trainers and did not return.

Still, the Cavs had more than enough firepower to keep the Sixers at bay. Zeller's dunk near the midway point made it a 25-point game, 77-50, and it was an insurmountable 85-62 differential heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Before the game, the Sixers celebrated the heartwarming two-day signing of Kevin Grow, a local 18-year-old from Bensalem High School who was born with Down syndrome and made four 3-pointers during a high school game last Saturday ... Thompson finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Bennett had 10 and 11 ... Philadelphia has lost by an average of 21.4 points during its skid ... The Cavs won the season series 3-1 ... The 76ers had won five consecutive home contests against Cleveland.