Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points and Joel Embiid added 24 as Philadelphia rallied from a disastrous first half to secure its second consecutive victory of the 2026–27 NBA season.
James contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while fellow off-season acquisition Jaylen Brown finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.
The comeback was the biggest in the NBA’s play-by-play era, which began in the 1996–97 season.
Cavaliers dominate the first half
Cleveland looked firmly in control early on, capitalising on Philadelphia’s turnovers and offensive struggles to build a commanding advantage.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers’ attack, scoring 22 of his 32 points before half-time as the visitors took a 69–45 lead into the break. Cleveland’s defensive pressure also troubled James and his new team-mates, with Philadelphia committing 15 first-half turnovers.
The Sixers’ home crowd grew frustrated as the deficit widened, but the atmosphere changed dramatically after the interval.
Maxey and Embiid spark the turnaround
Philadelphia emerged from half-time with greater urgency, opening the third quarter on an 11–0 run to reignite the contest.
Maxey led the charge with aggressive drives and timely baskets, helping the Sixers cut Cleveland’s advantage to single digits. His relentless approach gave the home side renewed belief after a difficult opening half.
The Cavaliers briefly regained control and carried an 90–82 lead into the fourth quarter, but Philadelphia continued to close the gap.
Embiid then delivered the pivotal moment, scoring a jump shot with 6 minutes and 54 seconds remaining to give the Sixers their first lead of the night.
Philadelphia did not surrender that advantage, completing a stunning reversal of fortunes to secure the eight-point victory.
Maxey, Embiid and Brown lead the Sixers
Maxey’s 32-point performance provided the offensive spark, while Embiid’s 24 points helped Philadelphia take control when the game was on the line.
Brown added 21 points and eight rebounds, making an important contribution in the closing stages as the Sixers completed the comeback.
James, playing his first home game in Philadelphia after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. The four-time NBA champion also experienced the early frustration of the contest before helping his new team recover.
For Cleveland, Mitchell scored 32 points, while Evan Mobley added 18. Jarrett Allen contributed 14 points, but the Cavaliers struggled to maintain their first-half momentum after the break.
Philadelphia outscored Cleveland 60–37 in the second half, with improved defensive pressure and better ball control helping turn the game around.
What the result means
The victory moved Philadelphia to 2–0 after its opening win over the defending champion New York Knicks. The Sixers have made an impressive start to the campaign, with their new-look line-up showing resilience despite still building chemistry.
For Cleveland, the defeat was a painful start to the season after surrendering a substantial lead. The Cavaliers will need to address their second-half struggles as they look to recover from the opening-night loss.
Philadelphia’s comeback will be remembered as one of the standout early moments of the 2026–27 NBA season, with Maxey, Embiid, Brown and James combining to deliver a dramatic result in front of the home crowd.