76ers Rally From 29 Points Down to Stun Cavaliers as LeBron James Shines in Home Debut

The Philadelphia 76ers produced a remarkable comeback to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 after trailing by as many as 29 points, giving LeBron James a memorable home debut in front of the Philadelphia crowd.

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 32 points, while Joel Embiid added 24 and Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points and eight rebounds. James finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Philadelphia secured its second victory of the new NBA season.

The comeback came hours after US President Donald Trump criticised James over his movements during the national anthem before Philadelphia’s season-opening game against the New York Knicks. Asked about Trump’s remarks after the victory, James responded with a laugh and said it must have been a “slow news day”.

Sixers Overcome Disastrous First Half

Cleveland appeared to be in complete control early in the game, exploiting Philadelphia’s turnovers and defensive struggles to build a substantial lead.

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points for the Cavaliers, including 22 in the first half, as Cleveland repeatedly punished the Sixers for their mistakes. Philadelphia struggled to establish an offensive rhythm, and the home crowd grew frustrated as the deficit widened.

The atmosphere changed dramatically after the break. Philadelphia opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run, energising the crowd and beginning its push back into the contest.

Maxey continued to attack the basket, while the Sixers tightened their defence and forced Cleveland into costly turnovers. The Cavaliers entered the fourth quarter still ahead, but Philadelphia refused to back down.

Embiid eventually gave the Sixers their first lead at 96-95 with a jump shot late in the game. Brown then helped extend the advantage with a series of important baskets as Philadelphia completed one of the most memorable comebacks of the early season.

The victory marked the biggest comeback of James’s NBA career and a record comeback for Philadelphia in the play-by-play era, which began in the 1996-97 season.

LeBron’s New Chapter in Philadelphia

James joined Philadelphia during the offseason after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, adding another major name to a team already featuring Maxey and Embiid. Brown also arrived as part of the Sixers’ revamped roster.

The four-time NBA champion previously played for Cleveland, where he won one of his four championships, making the matchup against his former team particularly significant.

Despite the difficult first half, James contributed across the board as Philadelphia rallied. His experience and all-round play helped the team remain competitive while Maxey, Embiid and Brown delivered crucial scoring contributions.

The Sixers have now opened the season with wins over the reigning champion New York Knicks and the Cavaliers, raising early expectations around their revamped lineup.

Thunder Win as Gilgeous-Alexander’s Record Streak Ends

Elsewhere, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 96-84, despite a difficult shooting performance from reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 17 points, bringing his NBA-record streak of 141 consecutive regular-season games with at least 20 points to an end. It was his first regular-season game below the 20-point mark since October 30, 2024, when he scored 18 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 21 points, while Chet Holmgren recorded 12 points and 17 rebounds. Aaron Gordon was Denver’s leading scorer with 20 points, while Nikola Jokić finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Despite their leading scorer’s struggles, the Thunder pulled away in the final quarter to secure the victory and improve their early-season record.

Philadelphia’s dramatic comeback and Oklahoma City’s defensive performance provided two major talking points from Thursday’s NBA action.

NBA results — Thursday, October 22

NBA •2026-27 season

Schedule

Cavaliers• 10676ers•114 Final Yesterday

Nuggets• 84 Thunder•96 Final Today

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