76ers come back from 29-point deficit for 114-106 win in home opener

The new-look Philadelphia 76ers staged a thrilling comeback for the home crowd in their regular-season home opener. Trailing by 29 points in the first half, the Sixers rode a second-half surge for a 38-point swing and an eventual 114-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points with 6 assists, followed by 24 points and 7 rebounds from Joel Embiid to lead Philadelphia. Jaylen Brown added 21 points with 8 boards, while LeBron James added 17 points with 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

Philadelphia took its first lead of the game at 96-95 five minutes into the fourth quarter on seven straight points by Embiid. Brown followed with a long fadeaway jumper, a driving layup between two defenders and a midrange shot to put Philadelphia ahead by seven points.

Teams that had a lead of 20+points at halftime were 65-0 in their season openers since the shot clock era began in 1954-55, according to ESPN.

Sixers shake off dreadful start

Playing their first game of the season, the Cavaliers seemed determined to show that last season’s Eastern Conference finalists won’t just step aside and let the Sixers cruise to the NBA Finals unchallenged.

Despite a night off since Tuesday’s season-opening win over the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks, Philadelphia initially played like a team that left all of its energy at Madison Square Garden. Maybe the effort to upstage the Knicks when they received their championship rings and establish their place in the East’s hierarchy set a level difficult to match early on.

By halftime, it appeared that the most memorable moment for the Sixers in their home opener would be the handshake and dance between Embiid and James during pregame introductions.

The NBA might have something to say about that, if the league office determines that James made one too many thrusts there. Poor V.J. Edgecombe was also left hanging by Embiid. He had to console himself with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.

This story will be updated with more information.