LeBron James made his home debut for the Philadelphia 76ers in the workforce’s preseason finale on Friday versus the Boston Celtics. The Sixers lost in time beyond regulation, 125-120.
Introduced second-to-last among the Sixers’ starters, before Joel Embiid, James drew the largest ovation from the followers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
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Embiid won the opening tip-off and the ball went to James. Philadelphia’s star free-agent addition then launched a 3-pointer. Had the shot gone in, the crowd would have erupted and given the home workforce a enormous increase. But James missed.
The NBA’s all-time main scorer got his first basket in a 76ers uniform almost halfway through the first quarter. James defleted a go by the Celtics’ Hayden Gray to level guard Tyrese Maxey, then streaked down the court with no defenders close to him. Maxey floated a lob go to James, who threw it down for a fast-break dunk.
The two-man recreation between James and Maxey will possible be a frequent characteristic of the Sixers’ offense, based mostly on what they confirmed on Friday.
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One of James’ baskets came after setting a screen at the high of the key, then cutting to the basket and getting a go from Maxey for a layup. James also introduced the ball up the court on several possessions, relieving Maxey of ballhandling responsibilties while also liberating the guard up to transfer without the ball, going to the basket or shifting to the nook for open 3-pointers.
James’ evening ended with 3:25 remaining in the third quarter with Sixers coach Nick Nurse taking him out for Jaylen Brown. He completed with an all-around efficiency of 8 factors, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 25 minutes.
Embiid led Philadelphia with 23 factors, choosing up where he left off versus the Celtics during last season’s playoffs. He added 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 29 minutes, noticeably shifting across the flooring with a body reportedly 20 to 25 kilos lighter.
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Though to be truthful, Embiid did not have to face Mitchell Robinson or Neemias Queta, who both sat out Friday’s recreation.
Maxey adopted with 22 factors and 6 assists, one of three Sixers to rating 20 or more factors on Friday.
Jaylen Brown faces Celtics after offseason commerce
If not for James making his home debut with his new workforce, Friday’s story might have been Brown dealing with the Celtics for the first time since he was traded to Philadelphia in July.
Brown performed 31 minutes, exiting the recreation at the 7:51 mark of the fourth quarter. He tallied 20 factors, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks against his former membership.
The Sixers performed at Boston last Saturday, but Brown sat out the preseason return to his home court along with fellow starters James, Embiid and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in a 144-106 defeat.
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Notably, Brown did not face former teammate Jayson Tatum as the Celtics sat several starters for Friday’s recreation, including Robinson, former 76er Paul George (half of the commerce for Brown) and Derrick White. Both groups opted to play their starters and high contributors in their respective home video games during the preseason.
The 76ers start the 2026-27 common season on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the defending NBA champion New York Knicks. The Celtics will go to the Detroit Pistons, also on Tuesday, to tip off their season.
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