PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James got the regular-season home debut he wanted. It just took the 76ers more than a half to get there.
Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points and Joel Embiid added 24 as the Sixers erased a 29-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. James finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in what was the largest comeback win of his career, and fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown chipped in 21 points.
Cleveland controlled the first half, outscoring Philadelphia 35-18 in the first quarter and taking a 69-45 lead into the break. The Sixers then flipped the game, winning the third quarter 37-21 and the fourth 32-16. James was a driving force in the third, piling up 10 points, three assists and two rebounds in nine minutes.
Philadelphia’s pressure defense fueled the turnaround. The Sixers forced 21 Cleveland turnovers, scored 64 points in the paint and held the Cavaliers to 16 points in the final quarter. VJ Edgecombe added 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Evan Mobley had 18, James Harden 16 and Jarrett Allen 14.
The night carried extra weight for James, who faced the franchise where he began his career. He won one of his four championships in Cleveland and is chasing a fifth in Philadelphia. James signed a two-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Sixers after weighing a return to the Cavaliers in free agency. The 41-year-old is in his NBA-record 24th season.
After the game, James said the evening was “everything that I’ve dreamed of — and more.” Coach Nick Nurse and Edgecombe both described the crowd as possibly the loudest they’ve heard in their home building. Demand was intense, with lower-bowl seats listed on resale sites for around $4,000.
The win also offered a measure of payback. Cleveland swept Philadelphia in last season’s playoffs.
The Sixers are now 2-0. They opened the season Tuesday with a 106-100 win over the defending champion Knicks on New York’s ring night. Philadelphia stays home for a weekend back-to-back, hosting Milwaukee on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Detroit on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
