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Bynum returns to Philly as Cavs meet Sixers

Nov 8, 2013 - 3:17 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Fans in Philadelphia will finally see Andrew Bynum on the court. Only this time he will be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who will open a home-and-home set with the 76ers Friday at Wells Fargo Center.

The Cavs also face the Sixers Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

Bynum was acquired by the Sixers in a four-team deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers and never played a second last season because of knee issues. The Sixers gave away some talent such as Andre Iguodala and Nikola Vucevic to land Bynum, but the plan ultimately backfired and now the 7- footer is with the Cavaliers.

"If I could've played, I would've," Bynum said Thursday. "And that's where that's at."

Bynum's minutes have been limited this season, but at least he's showing progress and proving he's healthy once again. Bynum is expected to play Friday and will most likely hear it from the crowd. He said he felt pains in his knees following a tough 109-104 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday, and finished with four points and four rebounds.

Kyrie Irving scored a team-high 29 points and Dion Waiters had 21, while C.J. Miles netted 14 points and Anderson Varejao posted 12 and eight boards for the Cavaliers, who are 0-3 on the road this season. Irving scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and even gave his team a short-lived lead at 104-103.

Milwaukee's Caron Butler had the game-winning tip-in with 24 seconds left to give the Bucks a 105-104 lead before O.J. Mayo went 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the closing seconds.

"You have to give the Bucks credit," Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown said. "They were shorthanded and did what they had to do to get a home win."

Brown's squad buried a season-high 12 3-pointers (12-28) and committed a season-low nine turnovers. Meanwhile, Miles is leading the Cavs' bench with 14.6 points per game.

Philadelphia surprised the NBA world by winning its first three games of the season against Miami, Washington and Chicago, but have dropped the last two games versus Golden State and the Wizards.

The Sixers, who will close out a four-game homestand Friday, suffered a 116-102 loss to Washington on Wednesday and got 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists from Evan Turner. Spencer Hawes posted 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, as the 76ers shot 47 percent for the game and committed 21 turnovers, leading to 22 Wizards points.

Washington was lights-out from 3-point range, making 18-of-33 shots, and John Wall hit five of those to finish with 24 points.

"Those two areas no doubt hurt us," Sixers head coach Brett Brown said of turnovers and defending the perimeter. "As time moves forward...I think that's (correctable)."

Sixers rookie Michael Carter-Williams continued his impressive start to the season with 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds. The Sixers need more from Thaddeus Young, who is averaging 6.5 ppg in his last two after posting an average of 21.0 ppg two games prior.

At least Turner is showcasing his talent and has scored 20-plus points in four of the five games this season.

Philadelphia won three of four games against Cleveland a season ago and is 8-1 in the past nine meetings between the teams. The Cavaliers are winless in the last four trips to south Philly.