Sixers rally from 29-point deficit to defeat Cavaliers 114-106
Philadelphia rallied from a 29-point first-half hole to beat Cleveland 114-106, with Tyrese Maxey urging the team to show resilience at halftime.
Philadelphia overcame a 29-point first-half deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on Tuesday night. The Sixers trailed by 24 at halftime before mounting an 11-0 run to start the third quarter and eventually erasing the gap.
"My only message that I had, I said, it’s time to see what we’re made of. Are we going to be some front-runners and digging in and only be happy when stuff is good? Or when stuff is bad, are we going to fight and be resilient?" Tyrese Maxey said during the halftime locker-room talk.
LeBron James echoed the sentiment, noting the team was not “a locker room full of lay-down guys” and that they answered the call. VJ Edgecombe added that the comeback demonstrated what the squad could become if it responded to adversity rather than slipping into a passive approach.
Jaylen Brown highlighted the need for better first-half play, saying the team must move the ball and create opportunities earlier. He also praised the clear communication that helped the group rally.
Coach Nick Nurse, who has emphasized the team’s connectedness throughout training camp, said the performance showed the players’ competitive nature without big-ego distractions. The win marked the largest comeback of James’s career and gave the Sixers an early test of their resolve for the season.