Cavaliers vs. 76ers: Sixers erase 29-point deficit to stun Cleveland 114-106 in home opener

The Philadelphia 76ers looked buried at halftime of their home opener. Then they flipped the game. Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, Joel Embiid added 24, and the Sixers wiped out a 29-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on Thursday night, Oct. 22, at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

NBA.com called it a record 29-point rally, and it was the biggest comeback win of LeBron James’ career. James had 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals in his first home game for Philadelphia, his fourth NBA franchise.

Cavs vs. 76ers final score and box score highlights

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Cavaliers	35	34	21	16	106
76ers	18	27	37	32	114

76ers leaders: - Tyrese Maxey: 32 points - Joel Embiid: 24 points - Jaylen Brown: 21 points, 8 rebounds - LeBron James: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals - VJ Edgecombe: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals

Cavaliers leaders: - Donovan Mitchell: 32 points (20 in the first half), 10 rebounds - Evan Mobley: 18 points, 8 rebounds

How did the Sixers come back from 29 down?

The first half was a mess for Philadelphia. The Sixers committed 11 turnovers in the first 13 minutes, according to NBA.com, and Cleveland held a 22-6 edge in points off turnovers late in the second quarter. Philadelphia missed 11 of 15 3-pointers in the half, the Associated Press reported, and the home crowd booed late in the second period. Cleveland led 69-45 at halftime and stretched the margin to 29.

The second half looked like a different game. Philadelphia outscored Cleveland 69-37 after the break, with the starters scoring 64 of those points. The Sixers cut the deficit to one possession with 3:59 left in the third quarter, and Embiid scored seven straight points in the fourth to give them their first lead, 96-95, with 6:54 remaining. Maxey sparked a 15-0 fourth-quarter run with relentless defense, the AP reported.

“That’s kind of a wild way to win a game, to get just absolutely two halves that don’t resemble each other at all,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said, per NBA.com.

The game also got heated. The AP reported that Maxey and former Sixers teammate James Harden went nose-to-nose in the fourth quarter before being separated.

LeBron James’ Philadelphia home debut

James, 41, signed a two-year deal with Philadelphia for the veteran minimum after flirting in free agency with a third stint in Cleveland, the AP reported. He won one of his four titles with the Cavaliers.

“It was everything that I dreamed of and more,” James said, according to NBA.com. “Got the boos, that was amazing. We deserved it. And then we got the cheers and almost blew the roof off this thing tonight in a good way.”

Fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown framed the comeback as a test passed early. “It’s going to be ups and downs all year long. How we respond is going to be 80% of the battle,” he said.

What it means for both teams

Philadelphia is 2-0 after also beating the Knicks, the reigning NBA champions, in its opener. The Cavaliers, who reached the Eastern Conference finals last season, fell to 0-1 in their first game of the season.

“We did not handle it well,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said of Philadelphia’s second-half pressure, per NBA.com. “But I’ll take away that on the road, hostile crowd, we gave ourselves a chance despite what happened in the second half.”

Viewers also noticed the picture. According to the AP, a new lighting system at the arena seemed to bathe the court in a blue hue and added colored streaks and reflections to the ESPN broadcast.

FAQ

Who won Cavaliers vs. 76ers? The 76ers won 114-106 on Oct. 22, 2026.

Who led the Sixers in scoring? Tyrese Maxey, with 32 points.

When do the Sixers play next? They host Milwaukee on Saturday and Detroit on Sunday, the AP reported.

When do the Cavs play next? Cleveland has its home opener Saturday against Brooklyn. The teams meet again Nov. 6 in Cleveland, per ESPN’s schedule.