The Philadelphia 76ers, now a super team with LeBron James on board, pulled off a stunning 29-point comeback to secure their second straight win of the National Basketball Association (NBA) season. James made his presence felt with a double-double performance.
On Friday, the Sixers edged out the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 in their home opener at the Xfinity Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After falling behind by as much as 29 points in the second quarter, Philly mounted a fierce second-half rally to snatch a thrilling come-from-behind victory. This win follows their season-opening triumph over the defending champion New York Knicks on Wednesday, giving them a 2-0 start.
For Cleveland, it was a bitter pill to swallow as they suffered a heartbreaking collapse in their season debut.
James, who left the LA Lakers to don a Sixers jersey, put up an impressive stat line with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Tyrese Maxey led the scoring charge with 32 points and 6 assists, while Joel Embiid chipped in 24 points and 7 rebounds. Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe also made significant contributions, with Brown posting 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Edgecombe adding 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The Sixers’ defense was shaky early on, allowing Cleveland to build a substantial lead. They trailed 18-35 after the first quarter and found themselves in a 29-point hole, 40-69, late in the second.
Just when it seemed Cleveland was cruising to an easy win, the tide turned in the third quarter.
Philadelphia tightened the screws on defense, stifling Cleveland’s offense. Led by James, Maxey, and Embiid, they chipped away at the deficit, closing the gap to 82-90.
The fourth quarter saw Embiid and Brown catch fire. Down 89-95, Philly unleashed a 15-0 run spearheaded by the duo, surging ahead 104-95.
Cleveland tried to rally behind James Harden, but Maxey and Brown responded with crucial baskets to keep the Cavs at bay. Brown punctuated the comeback with an emphatic dunk in the final 21 seconds, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
For the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell’s valiant effort of 32 points and 10 rebounds went in vain as his team stumbled in the opener.
