NBA: Embiid and Maxey lead Sixers back from 29 down to stun Cleveland

Philadelphia turned a night that was heading for disaster into their second win of the season. The 76ers beat Cleveland 114–106 on Thursday 22 October in the United States, completing a comeback from 29 points down. Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, Joel Embiid 24 and Jaylen Brown 21. In his first home game in his new colours, LeBron James added 17 points and 10 rebounds. The evening did not begin that way, though.

Cleveland dominate, then lose the thread

The Cavaliers first took control near the rim and profited from their opponents' turnovers. With Donovan Mitchell finishing, they won the first quarter 35–18 and kept stretching the gap until they led by 29 points. Their advantage was still huge at half-time: 69–45. Mitchell had already scored 22 of his 32 points. Philadelphia looked unable to protect the ball well enough to get their offence going.

The contrast was stark after the break. The Sixers defended with more energy, found chances to run and let Maxey attack the basket. The third quarter, which they won 37–21, cut the gap to eight points, 90–82. Cleveland still held the lead, but no longer controlled the tempo of the game. The comeback had changed the nature of the contest: they now had to hold on through every possession, rather than manage a big lead.

Embiid opens the door, Brown and Maxey finish the job

The final quarter confirmed the turnaround. Embiid scored seven straight points to put Philadelphia in front, 96–95. The Cameroon-born centre thus provided a decisive spell on a night when the shared scoring burden eventually worked. Brown then contributed mid-range jumpers and drives to the rim, while Maxey kept creating mismatches.

The comeback was also built on what Cleveland could no longer produce. The visitors scored only 16 points in the final period, against 32 for the Sixers. Over the whole of the second half, Philadelphia won 69–37. The Cavaliers turned the ball over 21 times in the game and finished 7 of 29 from three-point range. Their strong start was therefore not enough to make up for the wasted possessions and the drop in efficiency after the break.

With the final minute approaching, Mitchell missed two free throws that would have kept hope alive. Maxey then attacked the basket to push Cleveland further away. The guard embodied his team's change of attitude: less waiting on the perimeter and more pressure on the defence. The Sixers thus wrapped up a game in which their talent only truly showed after a very difficult first half.

Two wins, but balance still to be found

Philadelphia move to two wins and no defeats, following their opening success in New York. This second result highlights their resources, while also reminding them of the price of a poorly managed start. Overturning a 29-point deficit is an impressive response; having to close such a gap remains a warning about collective consistency.

Cleveland begin their season with a defeat despite Mitchell's 32 points. The Cavaliers will above all need to understand why an attack so productive before the break was then limited to 37 points. Their next game is at home to Brooklyn on Saturday 24 October in the United States. The Sixers host Milwaukee that same Saturday, before Detroit on Sunday.

Cleveland–Philadelphia: score, stats and SNA match sheet

NBA video: the Cleveland–Philadelphia highlights start at 0:00 in the official round-up of the night.