In what the Cavs treated as more like a preseason game, the sellout crowd at Quicken Loans Arena saw the team with the leagues best record fall at home for just the second time in the 2008-2009 season, losing to the Philadelphia 76′ers 111-110 in overtime. It was only the 2nd time all year the fans walked away having suffered a defeat, the first time was back in February against the Western Conference’s top seed – the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Cavs played what was a meaningless game to them smart. They sat MVP candidate LeBron James, guard Mo Williams, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and reserve big man Joe Smith. While to a man the team made it clear that they were there to win, it seemed to effect no one when Daniel Gibson slipped with a chance to win it in OT and dropped the ball, preserving the 76′ers victory.

The reserves took it to the 76′ers at first, building a 12-point lead at 49-37 at the half, but then the Sixers were able to start playing better, smarter defense, and their offense picked it up as well as they came storming back in the second half to cut it to a 5-point Cavs lead at the end of three.

The two playoff teams traded baskets for much of the fourth, and with the 76′ers up by three in the waining seconds, Gibson nailed a three-pointer to send the game into overtime. Cleveland built an early OT lead, only to see former Cavalier Andre Miller time after time hit big shots, and eventually he was the key to the 76′ers getting the lead and keeping it.

Philadelphia controlled the game from the free throw line, going there 43 times on the night, making 32 free throws. The Cavs on the other hand, made it to the charity stripe just 12 times, making 8 of their 12 free throws. Both teams shot well from the field, but it was the 76′ers ability to drive and get to the line that was the difference.

The Sixers had plenty to play for, as with their win over the Cavs and the Bulls surprising home loss to Toronto, the Sixers move into the 6th seed in the East, meaning they avoid the Boston Celtics in the first round and instead will take on the Orlando Magic. Chicago will now head East for a match-up with Boston either on Saturday or Sunday.

WIth most of the reserves getting big minutes, Gibson led the Cavs with 28 points, and Wally Szczerbiak added 21 points in 43 plus minutes. Sasha Pavlovic had 20 for Cleveland, and Darnell Jackson popped in 15. Even lightly used Jawad Williams played for close to 10 minutes for the Cavs and had 8 points.

In the end, the Cavs did the smart thing by not putting most of their stars on the floor. Even though they wrapped up the year one game short of the 1985-86 Boston Celtics’ all-time home record of 40-1, they are still the most dangerous team entering the playoffs, and with a matchup with the Pistons starting over the weekend, they know there are bigger fish to fry in the upcoming NBA Playoffs.