Philadelphia appeared headed for a miserable home opener after falling 29 points behind Cleveland. Instead, the 76ers completely changed the game after halftime, defeating the Cavaliers 114-106 in a comeback that set several franchise and league-era marks.
Tyrese Maxey led the way with 32 points and six assists, while Joel Embiid added 24 points. LeBron James also supplied a key moment when he found Maxey in transition for a three-pointer that sent the crowd into a frenzy. The shot came without a dribble, forced a Cleveland timeout, and captured the shift in momentum.
Cleveland Controlled the First Half
The Cavaliers looked comfortable early, particularly when using direct pick-and-roll actions. Philadelphia struggled to contain the ball-handler and repeatedly allowed Cleveland to create clean scoring opportunities in the middle of the floor.
Cleveland used 27 direct picks before the break and averaged 1.08 points per possession from those plays. Donovan Mitchell was the main beneficiary, scoring 30 points through three quarters as the Cavaliers built their largest advantage to 29.
Philadelphia also made its own problems worse by giving away the ball 15 times in the opening half. Those mistakes created transition chances and helped Cleveland maintain control even when the 76ers occasionally found success at the offensive end.
Nick Nurse’s Adjustment Changed the Matchup
Head coach Nick Nurse made a significant defensive change during the interval. Philadelphia altered its coverage against Cleveland’s pick-and-roll attack, taking away the action that had produced so much damage earlier in the evening.
The difference was immediate. Cleveland ran 20 direct picks after halftime but managed only 0.56 points per possession from them. Mitchell, who had carried the Cavaliers for most of the contest, scored just two points in the fourth quarter, and those came after the result was effectively decided.
| Category | Before halftime | After halftime |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland direct picks | 27 | 20 |
| Points per direct pick | 1.08 | 0.56 |
| Cleveland points | 69 | 37 |
| Philadelphia turnovers | 15 | 2 |
| Donovan Mitchell scoring | 30 through three quarters | 2 in the fourth quarter |
Ball security improved just as sharply. The 76ers committed only two turnovers in the second half, while Cleveland gave the ball away 15 times. That change removed the easy possessions that had allowed the Cavaliers to build their lead.
Maxey Sparked the Rally, Embiid Finished It
Philadelphia began the third quarter with an 8-0 burst and outscored Cleveland 37-21 in the period. The deficit was still eight entering the final quarter, but the contest no longer felt one-sided. The 76ers had stopped chasing the game and started dictating its pace.
Maxey became the emotional and tactical centre of the comeback. His scoring, speed, and control helped Philadelphia attack before Cleveland’s defence could set itself. The three-point play created by James was one of the night’s most memorable moments, but Maxey’s influence extended across the entire second half.
The decisive change arrived with 6:54 remaining. Embiid rose over Jarrett Allen and converted a 16-foot jumper to give Philadelphia its first lead, 96-95. He then added seven consecutive points during the stretch that put the 76ers in command, and Cleveland never regained the advantage.
The result marked Philadelphia’s largest comeback in the play-by-play era and Cleveland’s biggest blown lead during that same period. It was also the largest comeback of James’s 24-year NBA career.
A Warning Hidden Inside the Celebration
The atmosphere changed as dramatically as the score. Cleveland supporters had booed their team as the players left for halftime, yet the building became deafening once Philadelphia began cutting into the deficit. VJ Edgecombe called it the best professional atmosphere he had experienced.
Embiid said the group refused to collapse in a way previous 76ers teams might have. That resilience mattered, especially after such a poor opening half. Still, James offered the most practical assessment after the win: Philadelphia cannot depend on falling 29 points behind and expecting another rescue.
The lesson was not that the 76ers can overcome any deficit. It was that a precise defensive adjustment, better possession management, and elite late-game shot-making can transform a game that appears finished. On Thursday, those ingredients turned a hostile home opener into one of the most remarkable victories in franchise history.