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October 9, 2026 at 5:45 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Nets hold off 76ers in LeBron James' Philadelphia debut

LeBron James played 18 minutes and scored 10 in his first game as a 76er, but Brooklyn's depth won the night, 114-108, at Barclays Center.

76ers game report image
76ers game report image

LeBron James made his Philadelphia debut Thursday night, and the 76ers lost it 114-108 to a Brooklyn team that never seemed to care who was on the other side. James started and played 18 minutes. He finished with 10 points, four rebounds and five assists, the kind of line that reads as a man getting his legs under him in a new offense, not announcing himself.

The night also gave the first look at the new starting group on the floor together: James with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe. Brown set the pace with 18 points in 24 minutes, and Maxey added 14 in 19. Edgecombe had 11 points and five rebounds. Embiid played 24 minutes and scored only six, though he handed out three assists. Nobody should read much into the shooting yet.

This was the first preseason action for James, Embiid and Maxey, who were all held out of Monday's opening win over the Knicks. It was the second preseason game for Brooklyn, and the Nets looked like the team with more work behind it. Julius Randle had 14 points and six rebounds, Egor Demin scored 13 with five assists, and Nolan Traore came off the bench for 12. Keon Ellis added 12 more. Danny Wolf contributed nine points, six rebounds and four assists in 16 minutes, and the Nets got scoring from nearly everyone who checked in.

Philadelphia's plan was to give the starters limited time, and they stayed within it, with each of the five playing between 18 and 24 minutes. The additions of James and Brown have turned the 76ers into a title conversation, which is a heavy thing to carry into an October exhibition. Nothing here settled it. It was one night of rotations and reps, and for the 76ers the useful part is that the five who matter are now playing together.

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