Biggest comebacks in NBA history: LeBron James, 76ers erase 29-point deficit to top Cavs

Biggest comebacks in NBA history: LeBron James, 76ers erase 29-point deficit to top Cavs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Few would blame the 76ers for being a bit sluggish after a road win over the Knicks on New York's banner night on Tuesday, but they refused to roll over against the Cavaliers on Thursday.

After a dismal start led to a 29-point hole for Philadelphia, the new-look Sixers chipped away at the deficit throughout the second half and completed what could go down as the NBA's biggest comeback all season with a 114-106 win.

Where does it rank among the biggest comebacks in NBA history? Here's what you need to know.

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Biggest comebacks in NBA regular season history

The 76ers' comeback is tied for the 13th-largest in NBA history between the regular season and playoffs, tying a handful of comebacks including the Knicks' 29-point NBA Finals comeback against the Spurs.

* — Playoffs

For the 76ers, it's their largest comeback of the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) and largest overall since March 25, 1988, when the team overcame a 30-point deficit against the Celtics. The Cavaliers had never blown such a large lead before Thursday's meltdown.

Thursday's win is also the biggest comeback victory of LeBron James' career.

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Highlights from 76ers comeback

A 33-11 run got the Sixers back in the game:

PHILLY IS ON A 33-11 RUN 💨 After trailing by as many as 29 points, Tyrese Maxey (20 PTS) cuts the deficit to 7! https://t.co/L65VKNDiKx

— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2026

Here's the moment the 76ers took their first lead:

JOEL EMBIID GIVES PHILLY THEIR FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME IN Q4! THEY TRAILED BY AS MANY AS 29 POINTS 🤯 https://t.co/nwK8qCxHhe

— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2026

THE SIXERS ARE ON A 13-0 RUN IN Q4 💨 AFTER TRAILING BY AS MANY AS 29 POINTS, PHILLY NOW LEADS BY 7 WITH LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO PLAY! https://t.co/9S8bl0BKeh

— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2026

This was the moment the 76ers finished the job:

THE SIXERS ERASE A 29-POINT DEFICIT TO WIN THEIR HOME OPENER 🚨 IT'S PHILLY'S LARGEST COMEBACK OF THE PLAY-BY-PLAY ERA! https://t.co/7edGPbgZfC

— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2026

Lebron James stats vs. Cavs

Here's how LeBron James performed against the Cavaliers in his first 76ers home game:

• MIN: 33
• PTS: 17
• REB: 10
• AST: 5
• STL: 3
• BLK: 1
• FG: 5-14
• FT: 6-7
• 3P: 1-4
• TOV: 5
• PF: 3

Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown all had higher-scoring games than James, but he was Philadelphia's leading rebounder and notched three steals. 

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