The Philadelphia 76ers looked finished before halftime, then produced one of the most remarkable rallies in franchise history. After trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers by 29 points, Philadelphia stormed back for a 114-106 victory at Xfinity Arena on Thursday night.

The comeback marked the largest in the 76ers’ play-by-play era and the biggest lead Cleveland has ever surrendered in that span. It also became the most significant comeback win of LeBron James’s 24-year NBA career.

A Brutal First Half Turns Into a Tactical Win

Cleveland controlled the opening half by attacking Philadelphia through direct pick-and-roll actions. The Cavaliers used 27 such possessions before the break and averaged 1.08 points per play, repeatedly forcing the 76ers into difficult defensive decisions.

Philadelphia’s ball security made the deficit even worse. The Sixers committed 15 turnovers in the first half, giving Cleveland extra opportunities and allowing the home crowd’s early excitement to dissolve into boos.

Head coach Nick Nurse changed the defensive coverage after halftime. Cleveland still ran 20 direct picks in the second half, but those possessions produced only 0.56 points each. The adjustment removed the Cavaliers’ most reliable source of offence and gave Philadelphia room to build momentum.

The change also limited Donovan Mitchell, who had scored 30 points through three quarters. He managed only two more in the final period, and both came after the result was effectively decided.

Philadelphia’s Second-Half Rally

The turnaround began immediately after the interval. Philadelphia opened the third quarter with an 8-0 burst and won the period 37-21. Cleveland’s turnovers fuelled several transition chances, while James and Tyrese Maxey pushed the pace instead of allowing the Cavaliers to reset their half-court defence.

• The Sixers reduced their turnovers from 15 to two after halftime.
• Cleveland gave the ball away 15 times in the second half.
• Philadelphia entered the fourth quarter still trailing by eight points.
• The 76ers eventually scored 37 points in the third quarter.

Maxey became the game’s driving force. He finished with 32 points and six assists, leading every player on the floor in scoring. One of his biggest moments came when James found him in transition; Maxey caught the pass without dribbling and immediately buried a three-pointer.

The shot forced Cleveland to call timeout. Maxey turned toward the supporters behind the scorer’s table and shouted, capturing the dramatic change in the building. The same crowd that had sent the team into the locker room with jeers was now generating the energy Philadelphia needed.

Embiid Delivers the Decisive Stretch

The 76ers finally moved in front with 6:54 remaining. Joel Embiid rose over Jarrett Allen and connected on a 16-foot jumper, giving Philadelphia its first lead of the evening. The Sixers never fell behind again.

Embiid added 24 points and helped close the game with a sequence of powerful possessions. He later described the night as one of the three best experiences of his career, while young guard VJ Edgecombe called the atmosphere the finest he had encountered as a professional.

Jaylen Brown also recovered from a quiet opening half. After scoring only four points before the break, he became more involved after the interval and finished with 21 points. James contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds in his first home game for Philadelphia.

The victory does not suggest that the Sixers can routinely survive 29-point holes. James acknowledged as much, joking that the team should not depend on comebacks of this magnitude.

Still, the result offered a clear blueprint for recovery: defend the opponent’s preferred action, protect the basketball and let the team’s creators attack in transition. Philadelphia did all three after halftime, turning an apparently lost home opener into a record-setting win.