Philadelphia 76ers Overcome 27-Point Deficit to Defeat Cleveland Cavaliers
The Philadelphia 76ers erased a 27-point deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114–106 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, securing the franchise’s largest comeback in 30 years during LeBron James’s home debut with the team, Montevideo Portal reported. Tyrese Maxey led the victors with 32 points and six assists, while Donovan Mitchell posted 32 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland in the opening game of the visitors’ campaign.
The comeback marks the largest rally of James’s career. The result lifts Philadelphia to 2–0 following a season-opening 106–100 victory against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers under head coach Kenny Atkinson became the first team in NBA history to lose an opening game after holding a halftime lead of 20 points or more, snapping a 65–0 historical precedent stretching back to the 1964–65 season.
First-Half Dominance by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland asserted control early after an 11–11 tie, orchestrating a 21–5 run that established a 16-point advantage by the end of the opening period. Mitchell scored 12 points in the first quarter and added 10 more in the second without missing any of his five field goal attempts. Cleveland llegó a dominar por 60-33 y se marchó al descanso con una renta de 69-45. Mitchell finished the first half with 22 points, supported by Evan Mobley with 15 and Jarrett Allen with 14.
Nurse Adjusts Defense to Spark Philadelphia Surge
Head coach Nick Nurse adjusted Philadelphia’s defensive schemes during intermission, yielding an immediate response as the hosts opened the second half with an 8–0 surge followed by a 9–0 run to narrow the deficit to 80–77. James contributed 10 points in the third period, while Maxey added nine, Jaylen Brown scored seven, and Joel Embiid chipped in six. The Sixers outscored Cleveland 37–21 in the quarter, though the Cavaliers maintained a 90–82 cushion heading into the final frame behind eight points from Mitchell in the period.
Fourth-Quarter Surge Secures Victory for Philadelphia
Philadelphia completed the turnaround during a decisive 32–16 fourth quarter. An early 14–5 run culminated in a basket by Embiid that gave the Sixers their first lead of the contest at 96–95. The home side extended that sequence into a 20–5 run, moving ahead 102–95 while limiting Mitchell to just two points in the final period. Brown contributed 10 crucial points down the stretch to seal the outcome.
Embiid finished with 24 points and seven rebounds, Brown added 21 points and eight rebounds, and James recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in 33 minutes on the floor. Mobley contributed 18 points and eight rebounds for Cleveland, while James Harden added 16 points and five assists against his former supporters.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sees Historic 20-Point Streak Snapped
In Thursday’s other notable action, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points in a 96–84 victory against the Denver Nuggets, ending his streak of 141 regular-season games with at least 20 points, Montevideo Portal reported. The Canadian guard, who had not scored below that threshold since October 30, 2024, shot six of 19 from the field, including three of 11 from beyond the arc.
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