Cavs rookie Jaylon Tyson scores 39 in clutch Philly win

When Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Jaylon Tyson caught the ball in the corner with just seconds left and the game tied, he had a choice: take the hero shot or trust his teammate.

He chose trust, and it made all the difference.

Tyson wrapped a mid-air pass around 76ers star Joel Embiid to set up Evan Mobley's game-winning dunk with 4.8 seconds remaining. The clutch assist capped off the best night of Tyson's young career: 39 points on 13 of 17 shooting, including seven three-pointers.

The 21-year-old wasn't even the first option on the final play. Coach Kenny Atkinson had drawn up a play for All-Star Donovan Mitchell, but Philadelphia's defense shut it down.

Veteran point guard Lonzo Ball, inbounding the ball, had to think fast. With the shot clock off and no timeouts remaining, Ball spotted Tyson open in the corner and delivered a perfect pass over defender Paul George.

Tyson caught it, drove baseline, and saw Embiid waiting to block his shot. Instead of forcing a contested layup, he slipped the ball to Mobley for the easy dunk.

"He could have tried to get 40," Mitchell said after the game. "He could've tried to do it on his own and let the moment be about him. But instead, he makes the right play to win us the game."

The humble performance came with two starters out injured and Cleveland needing someone to step up. Tyson also spent the entire night defending Tyrese Maxey, one of the league's top scorers.

After the 117-115 victory, teammates gave Tyson the game ball and an impromptu ice bath in the visitor's locker room. When he tried to deflect attention by calling it "a good team win," teammate De'Andre Hunter shouted from across the room: "Forget the humble stuff, man."

Why This Inspires

In professional sports, players often get criticized for chasing individual glory over team success. Tyson's decision in that final moment shows what happens when young players prioritize winning over personal stats.

His selflessness carried extra weight because he'd already put up career numbers. Most players in that situation would have taken the shot, hoping to cap off their big night with the winning basket.

Instead, Tyson made the smart play, the right play, the team play. For a second-year player on one of the NBA's best teams, that maturity stands out.

"In the biggest moment, in the biggest situation, in a crucial game, he goes out there and does that," Mitchell added. "That's a special mindset."

The win marked Cleveland's third victory over Philadelphia this season, and Tyson's breakout performance showed the Cavaliers have depth they can count on when it matters most.