The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, erasing a 29-point deficit in one of the largest comebacks in NBA history. Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 32 points, and the 76ers improved to 2-0 while the Cavaliers dropped to 0-1.
Cleveland built its lead behind Donovan Mitchell, who finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds, and Evan Mobley, who added 18 points. But the 76ers answered with a 33-11 run that flipped the game, and Joel Embiid’s basket gave Philadelphia its first lead of the night in the fourth quarter. The 76ers’ season-opening preview had flagged the matchup as a chance for a second straight win, and Philadelphia delivered in dramatic fashion.
Takeaways From 76ers’ Win Over Cavaliers
The 76ers 29-point comeback ranks among the NBA’s biggest
Philadelphia’s rally from 29 points down is tied for the 13th-largest comeback in NBA history across regular season and playoffs, according to Sporting News. It marks the franchise’s largest comeback since March 25, 1988, when the 76ers erased a 30-point deficit against the Boston Celtics. The Cavaliers, for their part, had never previously blown a lead that large.
A 13-0 fourth-quarter burst sealed the collapse
Trailing by as many as 29 points, Philadelphia ripped off a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to complete the turnaround. The surge came on the heels of the 33-11 run that had already cut into Cleveland’s cushion, showing a defense that tightened significantly as the Cavaliers’ offense stalled down the stretch.
LeBron James’ home debut included a scary collision
In the third quarter with four minutes left, James accidentally struck teammate VJ Edgecombe in the face while contesting a defensive rebound following a missed Jarrett Allen free throw, leaving Edgecombe with a bloody nose, according to Bleacher Report. Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell pushed James from behind during the rebound battle, drawing a loose ball foul.
Player Of The Game: Tyrese Maxey
Maxey finished with 32 points on 12-of-23 shooting, adding six assists in 42 minutes. He scored 20 of his points in the comeback effort, per Sporting News, pairing his scoring punch with the playmaking that set up Philadelphia’s late-game execution.
76ers Vs Cavaliers By The Numbers
Philadelphia shot 46% from the field to Cleveland’s 45%. The 76ers won the turnover battle 16-21, limiting extra possessions. Philadelphia out-assisted Cleveland 24-18. LeBron James led the 76ers with 10 rebounds and three steals; Tyrese Maxey added six assists.
What It Means
Philadelphia moved to 2-0 and sits atop the Atlantic Division standings. Cleveland fell to 0-1. Philadelphia leads the season series 1-0.
What’s Next
The Cavaliers will play next on Saturday. The 76ers’ next opponent and date have not been announced.
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