Category: NBA

Sixers find a special level in wild comeback, give glimpse of ‘who we can be' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers seemed to be stunned into action Thursday night at Xfinity Mobiile Arena. 

Down 29 points in the second quarter and 24 at halftime, they rescued their home opener and pulled off a wild win over the Cavs. 

The nature of the comeback was perhaps most striking and encouraging with 80 games to go. The 2-0 Sixers transformed into a freight train, stringing together stops and overwhelming Cleveland in transition. LeBron James (17 points, 10 rebounds) was just one of the Sixers’ many menaces in the open floor. By the fourth quarter, the fact the Sixers almost had the lead felt more inevitable than miraculous. 

The team’s halftime dialogue was frank.

“I think it was clear,” Jaylen Brown said after a 21-point, eight-rebound night. “I think I said, ‘It’s a great opportunity for us to respond to adversity.’ There’s going to be ups and downs all year long. How we respond is going to be 80 percent of the battle. Being down 30, we could’ve been pointing fingers. We got after it, so I like that.”

The Sixers were not dependent on the flurry of long-range jumpers that fuel plenty of modern-day comebacks. Tyrese Maxey (32 points, six assists) was the lone Sixer to make multiple three-pointers in the game, going 2 for 7 beyond the arc. 

The team hasn’t shot well from three-point territory in either their opening-night victory against the Knicks or on Thursday. They’ve hit only 18 of their 68 threes (26.5 percent) so far.  Both wins have been largely about defense and accessing a lofty level in the second half.

“No shade to anyone that’s been here, but in the past a lot of people would’ve just laid down and tried to move on to the next one,” Joel Embiid said. “We’ve got the talent. I would like for us to not be in that position again in the first place. … That takes a lot of energy. But it was different. I said it after last game: It just feels different. We’ve just got to stay healthy and keep working with each other. 

“The crazy thing, looking at it, I think we only made three or four threes in that (second-half) run. It was all putting our heads down, getting stops, getting to the rim at will — everybody on the team. Defensively, picking up the ball. Usually, when teams make that type of comeback, it’s a bunch of threes.”

Maxey has been in the middle of nearly everything and appears on his typical trajectory of true year-over-year improvement. 

In addition to the speed, sensational shotmaking and ever-growing leadership, he’s nabbed five steals over the first two games and taken pride in playing high-pressure, high-effort defense on the ball. He picked James Harden up full court and even got into a mini-shoving match with his former teammate in the fourth quarter. 

“This is a very competitive group,” Maxey said. My only message (at halftime) was, ‘Well, it’s time to see what we’re made of. Are we going to be some frontrunners … and only be happy when stuff is good? Or when stuff is bad, are we going to fight and be resilient?’ We did that.”

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse believes Maxey has made “a confidence or maturity level jump.” He’s been pleased with the constant defensive progress, too. 

“He’s out there battling,” Nurse said. “Especially when it’s time to knuckle down and get a stop, he’s out there really playing.”

With all the stars surrounding him, Maxey’s backcourt mate will likely fly under the radar at times this season.

However, the elated home fans appreciated VJ Edgecombe’s work in the second half. The second-year guard received a big cheer when he stayed in the game with a bloody nose caused by James’ inadvertent elbow. Edgecombe chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. 

“I’m good, man,” Edgecombe said with a smile, gauze in his nostril. “I’m blessed. Thank God there’s nothing bad. But if there was, (James) can buy me a new nose.”

Edgecombe saw Thursday’s comeback as a glimpse of what the Sixers might become many months down the line. 

“We’re a new team, but at the end of the day, we have a goal we’re trying to accomplish,” he said. “That comes with storms we’re going to have to weather. … We’ve got to fight through a lot of adversity. 

“It looks good on paper with the names and everything, but we still have to go out there and play hard. I feel like that kind of showed a little bit … of what we are and who we can be.”

Kevin Garnett believes rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is first part of Warriors' rebuild originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg quickly is proving to be a vital player for the Warriors, guiding the team to an NBA Summer League title and scoring 12 points on opening night. The 2026 No. 11 overall pick’s early success is drawing attention, including from NBA legend Kevin Garnett.

“The kid from Michigan, I love him,” Garnett said on his KG: Certified podcast with Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. “I think he’s gonna be the first part of the rebuilding of having young pieces in there like y’all talking about and that kid actually. You can give him the ball and he can get some money, bro … he’s strong, and I don’t know if everybody understands. I think he’s a little older than everybody too.”

The Warriors have multiple aging superstars in Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and the front office needs to start thinking about the team’s future. Lendeborg could be at the very center of it.

“He’s a little more mature,” Garnett said. “He bounced around a little bit, but he’s a, he has a mature game. What they wanted with [James] Wiseman and [Jonathan] Kuminga, they’re getting with this kid because this kid has a throttle, but he’s low throttle. He doesn’t seem like he has an ego. He’s real college-y, meaning that he’s a kid, likes to, you know, play around, likes the uppity. Draymond is totally opposite. So to see him fall in line with the program and to learn, he ain’t complaining … He is fitting into the system. I just don’t know if it’s enough in the west.”

Have the Warriors found their young piece to build around? 👀

Yaxel Lendeborg isn't shying away from Luka Dončić or anybody else, and Kevin Garnett is taking notice.

KG CERTIFIED with Tony Allen & Zach Randolph is out now. pic.twitter.com/rCjtk3Wb0W

— KG: Certified (@kg_certified) October 22, 2026

Lendeborg, a focal point on Michigan’s national title-winning team in 2025-2026, made his debut in a Summer League game against the LA Lakers on July 3. He scored 19 points in the win and continued to play at a high level all summer long.

In the championship game, Lendeborg finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, winning MVP for the game and the entire Summer League. The then-23-year-old drew praise from head coach Steve Kerr for his efforts, deeming him the most NBA-ready rookie that he has coached in his career.

The Warriors face injury issues to start the season, with guard Brandin Podziemski missing opening night and forward/center Kristaps Porzingis’ future with the team uncertain because of a health issue. But Lendeborg playing at a high level all season will help Golden State feel those absences less.

Lendeborg and the Warriors look to bounce back from their opening night loss when the Memphis Grizzlies come to town Friday night.

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James Dolan is firmly cemented as one of the most reviled owners in sports, but even knowing the depths of his awfulness, nobody was prepared for the story that broke on Thursday night about how atrociously he treated Knicks employees.

When a team wins a championship it’s customary for an organization to give at least some employees championship rings as a token of gratitude for being the support staff of the team. The Seahawks gave football staffers full Super Bowl rings, the Carolina Hurricanes gave every team employee a ring — Dolan and the Knicks? They tricked workers with a scam instead.

An email went out in September to every Madison Square Garden employee, which was obtained by The Athletic. In it, the team seemingly promised everyone a ring — going so far as to ask for their customization preferences.

“(Employee name), this one is on the house. MSG is issuing a complimentary employee championship ring. The same jeweler, the same craftsmanship, personalized with your name. No cost to you.

There are two designs to choose from: Championship Gold and Garden Classic. Reserve the one you want below.”

Naturally, employees were excited. The problem was that this was a targeted scam, organized by Dolan. He asked for the emails to be sent to his workforce as a way to test which of his employees would fall for a phishing scam. It’s been reported that Dolan is growing increasingly paranoid about cybersecurity, which is fine — but trying to test this under the guise of giving his workers rings? That’s just gross.

Not only was there never a plan to give MSG employees rings, but anyone who did click on the link and tried to reserve their ring was instead put in compulsory cybersecurity training. When reached for comment the Knicks refused to discuss the ring situation with The Athletic.

Team employees work incredibly hard. Most are so consumed by their love of the job that, when the playoffs roll around — or, God willing, a finals run —they accept long hours, weekend work, and extra duties outside their typical responsibilities. This is why teams reward their staff with rings if a team finally breaks through, because while athletes are the ones responsible for winning, the organization as a whole would be nothing without the hundreds of people working behind the scenes, from marketing to equipment management, and beyond.

To make these people think they were getting noticed, and that something was being done for them — only to learn it was a rug pull plan to test them — it’s just disgusting. Shame on James Dolan for being such a paranoid, ludicrous cheapskate that he gleefully screw over his employees as a test.

Just an awful dude.

Before World Series festivities get underway, the Milwaukee Bucks have a crucial game against the Chicago Bulls. Why? Well, obviously they’ll be champing at the bit to rectify the mistakes they made two nights ago, but this is also the last game for a while where Milwaukee has a genuine 50-50 shot at winning. Look at the schedule after today’s game—it is scary. I’m sure Taylor Jenkins doesn’t want to start his first few weeks in the big chair without a win. Of course, these two teams met in the preseason, and the Bulls smacked the Bucks around, but basically none of Milwaukee’s starters played in that game, so who wins today is anyone’s guess.

The Task Ahead

Chicago is coming off a much worse loss than Milwaukee is, falling to the Raptors 135-92 on Wednesday night. Like the Bucks, the Bulls are in the first year of their full-blown rebuild, so they are also handing major responsibility to unproven youth. Case in point: fourth overall pick Caleb Wilson began his NBA career shooting 7/21 with nine—yes, nine—turnovers. The kid is getting to explore the studio space, and that will come with some major growing pains.

As for broader team-based tactics, the main thing the Bucks need to prepare for is the Bulls’ pace. Last year under Billy Donovan, Chicago had the third-fastest pace in the league. This year, despite the roster overhaul and coaching change, the Bulls still ran at a top-10 pace in the preseason. Josh Giddey is the engine behind it all due to his basketball IQ and ability to throw hit-ahead passes. Norman Powell, their key offseason signing, fits this style of play perfectly because he was a key part of the Miami Heat’s breakneck system last year. I mentioned Caleb Wilson’s struggles against a sturdy Raptors half-court defence; well, one area he thrives is transition (seriously, do not jump with Wilson). Long story short, if Milwaukee controls the pace by generating good shots and forcing Chicago to take the ball out of the net, they will give themselves every chance to win; if not, it could be a long night afternoon.

Injury Report

Bucks: (clean injury report)

Bulls:

• Nic Claxton: out (hamstring)
• Dailyn Swain: questionable (illness)
• Jordan Hawkins: questionable (illness)
• Josh Giddey: probable (wrist)
• Zach Collins: probable (quad)
• Tobe Awaka: probable (MCL)

Player to Watch

Leonard Miller. Seen as a “throw-in” when the Bulls traded Ayo Dosunmu to the Wolves, Miller exploded over the preseason, averaging 17.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.0 APG. Miller is a versatile, twitchy, athletic four/five who never really got a shot in Minnesota and is making the most of his chance in Chicago. But the even crazier stat is that Miller—who has always been maligned for his lack of shooting—made threes at 54.5% in the preseason. Milwaukee needs to be prepared for the 22-year-old; he can really play.

Projected Starters

Bucks	Position	Bulls
Ryan Rollins	PG	Josh Giddey
Tyler Herro	SG	Norman Powell
Jaime Jaquez Jr.	SF	Matas Buzelis
Kyle Kuzma	PF	Caleb Wilson
Myles Turner	C	Jalen Smith

Game Details

Who: Milwaukee Bucks (0-1) vs. Chicago (0-1).

When: 3:00 p.m. CDT.

Where: Fiserv Forum—Milwaukee, WI.

Watch: MY24.

Listen: Check local listings.

Prescient Prediction

Kel’el Ware bounces back. We know Anthony Davis dominated him physically two nights ago, but the Bulls have a much smaller front line, especially with Nic Claxton out. Thus, I predict Ware will impose himself today with deep seals, hard screens, and a tougher resolve overall. 15 and 12.

On Championship Night, the New York Knicks were honored at Madison Square Garden and received their long-awaited championship rings. However, the assistant coaches were handed empty boxes, creating the illusion that they had received their rings, The Athletic reported.

During the championship celebration, each Knicks player was individually presented with their ring in front of the crowd. The ceremony culminated with the team raising a new banner to commemorate their NBA title, which they secured by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games during the 2026 Finals.

This historic victory ended the franchise's 53-year championship drought.

The Athletic reported that assistant coaches were informed they would not receive their rings during the public ceremony, but instead at an unspecified later date.

Additionally, according to the report, many longtime Madison Square Garden employees would not be receiving rings, despite having previously received an email that asked them to select a "complimentary employee championship ring" design from a provided list.

These emails were part of a phishing test orchestrated by MSG to evaluate employees' cybersecurity awareness, according to the report, and those who clicked the links or responded to the email were subsequently required to attend a mandatory cybersecurity training session.

"We are not disclosing anything about the rings," an MSG Sports spokesperson said in a statement to The Athletic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks assistants didn't get rings (yet), just empty boxes on opening night: Report

Every team in the NBA has made its debut in the 2026-27 season after the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers both played for the first time on Thursday night. The regular season is genuinely eternal with 82 games on the calendar for each franchise before the playoffs start, but it’s our right as sports fans to overreact to the first thing we see after the long summer layoff.

Some of these super trends aren’t going to last. Victor Wembanyama and Jayson Tatum were both terrible offensively in their season debuts, which put the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics at the bottom of their respective conferences. I think both will be just fine. Jaxson Hayes leads the NBA in blocks after notching six in his first game as a member of the Utah Jazz. It’s my job to cover the NBA, and I’ll admit I didn’t even know Hayes was on the Jazz this season.

My overreactions after last year’s first games had a few truth bombs when I wrote that Wembanyama was the best player in the world and the Knicks were the team to beat in the East. How will my early overreactions age this season? Let’s get into it.

Ty Jerome is making the All-Star team

TY JEROME WENT OFF IN MEMPHIS' WIN!

45 PTS (CAREER-HIGH)
7 REB
6 AST
5 3PM

MOST POINTS BY A GRIZZLIES PLAYER IN A SEASON OPENER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jugQasfscR

— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2026

I didn’t put Ty Jerome on my breakout list for this season because I felt like he broke out last year when he ranked as the 8th best player in the NBA in EPM. Well, Jerome only played 15 games last year, so he’s still going to catch a lot of people by surprise. Jerome absolutely toyed with a poor Utah Jazz defense in his season opener by bombing threes, hitting off-balance runners off the dribble, and spraying out passes to his play finishers. Jerome was absolutely deadly as a pick-and-roll handler, and Jazz had no answer for him. It’s not a stretch to say he’s one of the best shot-makers alive. The Grizzlies are going to be good, and Jerome legitimately could be one of the better guards in the West.

The Timberwolves will break the record for 3-point attempts

The 2024-25 Boston Celtics shattered the NBA record for most three-point attempts in a single season with 3,955, which equated to 48.23 attempts per game. In their season opener, the Minnesota Timberwolves launched 50 threes, making 21 of them (41 percent), to beat the Miami Heat in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut. This was always the vision behind Minnesota’s off-season trade for LaMelo Ball, putting two expert pull-up three-point shooters together in his pairing with Anthony Edwards to keep opponents in a dangerous guessing game all year. I’ve maintained that if any team can beat the Spurs or Thunder in a playoff series this year, it’s the Wolves. They’re just going to attack defenses in highly unconventional ways, and if they get hot in a short series, anything can happen.

The Bulls will be in the relegation zone

New Bulls lead executive Bryson Graham essentially said his team would be “Fun Bad” at media day, but there was nothing fun about Chicago’s 43-point loss to the Toronto Raptors to open the season. The Bulls are trying to turn rookie stud Caleb Wilson from an Amare Stoudemire or Shawn Kemp style play-finisher at the college level to a Paul George or Tracy McGrady style wing creator in the NBA, and there’s naturally going to be a lot of growing pains. Even if Wilson’s three-point shot is better than he showed at North Carolina, his ball handling is still very bad. The Bulls just don’t have much talent around him. Here’s how I put it on Twitter — and I don’t think there’s much else to say.

The Bulls can’t drive, can’t rebound, can’t force defensive takeaways, and can’t shoot. Other than that everything is great.

— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) October 22, 2026

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has another leap to take

Nickeil Alexander-Walker won NBA Most Improved Player last season as he went from a reserve on the Timberwolves to a starter on the Atlanta Hawks. I don’t think he’s done improving. The 28-year-old is the rare guard who provides on- and off-ball utility while also being above-average defensively. He’s only getting more comfortable picking his spots and hunting his own offense, and his biggest shot of the night in a win over the Orlando Magic came off a play that started with him setting a hard screen. NAW has the size and versatility that star guards are made of, and I think his career will only continue to keep trending up.

Damian Lillard won’t miss a beat coming off Achilles surgery

Dame STARRED in his Portland return!

25 PTS (game-high)
6 AST
6 3PM (game-high)

542 days since his last NBA game.
1,309 days since his last game as a Blazer. pic.twitter.com/ztAd0ANubT

— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2026

An Achilles tear at age-35 would be the end of most players’ careers. Not Damian Lillard. The superstar guard returned home to the Portland Trail Blazers to rehab the injury last season, and taking his time to come back was a smart move. Lillard looked like his old self as the Blazers humiliated the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, with 25 points, six assists, and only one turnover on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. Portland should continue to be smart with Dame by resting him at opportune times, especially when they have such great guard depth. In the right doses, Lillard sure looks like he can still be a killer on the offensive end, and that’s great to see.

Paul George will be an amazing addition for the Celtics

Paul George was at or near the top of every “worst contracts in the NBA” list last year. That didn’t deter the Celtics from taking him on in the controversial Jaylen Brown trade despite $110 million over two years remaining on the deal. George is kind of the exact opposite of Brown: way less durable and less explosive going to the basket, but much better as an off-ball player on both ends of the floor. George’s Celtics debut was perfect: 38 points and five steals on 7-of-12 shooting from three. Well, it wasn’t actually perfect because Boston blew the biggest lead on opening night in league history. Still, George is going to be really good for the Celtics this year, and I still suspect Boston might come out on top in the Brown trade, depending how those future draft picks eventually turn out.

The Suns’ try-hard gimmick won’t work this time

No one expected the Suns to win 45 games last year, but they turned into one of the league’s most pleasant surprises by crushing the margins at every opportunity. More than anything, Jordan Ott’s team just felt like it played harder than any other team in the league, but that style can only take you so far. The Suns looked flat-out unprepared to open the season as the Blazers ran them out of the gym from the first quarter. Cinderella stories usually aren’t built to last, and the clock could strike midnight early for Phoenix.

Never seen a team be in the penalty before scoring a point. pic.twitter.com/yjp65YiL0J

— Scoot the Beav (@beav_scott) October 22, 2026

The Spurs’ starting lineup is a huge mistake

Dylan Harper gave some quotes to GQ in the preseason that indicated he didn’t want to come off the bench. I’m on Harper’s side on this one, but San Antonio’s decision to start all of Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle felt like it was more based on personality management than actual tactics. The Spurs flipped their season last year by putting Julian Champagnie in the starting lineup, and I suspect that will happen again as the playoffs draw near. I like putting Fox and Castle off the bench and Champagnie and Devin Vassell in the starting lineup. What happens when Tobias Harris is healthy? The Spurs have a lot of buttons to push, and that’s a good thing, but championship teams demand sacrifice, and that’s going to have to happen eventually for San Antonio to reach its ceiling.

The Thunder are winning it all

I thought I was picking the Thunder to win the 2027 NBA championship all offseason before I flipped my pick to the Spurs at the last second. I’m already regretting it. OKC still has the best roster in the league with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell healthy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ready to fight MVP voter fatigue, and Chet Holmgren doesn’t want to go out sad again like he did last season. The title still runs through OKC.

This was supposed to be my first article for the Bright Side of the Sun: a literature review of ongoing discrimination issues in the National Basketball Association.

I left my proposed draft title in place even though the subject has changed. It was titled “The Answer” before Voita changed it to something more SEO appropriate. Remembering The Answer, Allen Iverson, should bring joy to all basketball fans. Pause, reflect. On to the present.

Wednesday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers changed that, as did our editor John Voita’s request for commentary on what was a disaster of an opening season for the Suns.

What was truly gut-wrenching about last night’s game was not the Suns’ loss. It could have been anticipated. Since this was the Trail Blazers’ home opener, they had several reasons to celebrate: new players and the return of Portland legend Damian Lillard.

No. What was truly disheartening and unexpected was the lack of team effort. The total unpreparedness of a Suns team that looked at times like they had never played together during preseason.

John is a lifelong Suns fan, like many of us. He also couldn’t anticipate the events of yesterday’s game. He asked in good faith whether he was alone in his assessment that yesterday’s game was very much like a crime scene.

I assert John is not alone in his assessment, and many of you may feel the same way. Please comment below to let us know what your take is on the Suns opener. Let’s also all look forward to Saturday’s home game. The most important for the Suns, in my estimation, for the coaching staff and the players in years.

Corey Kispert was a mid-season addition for the Atlanta Hawks last season, as he was part of the Trae Young trade that sent him to the Washington Wizards. It was an up-and-down 39 games for Kispert, and he saw his minutes decrease toward the end of the season and into the playoffs.

Coming into this season, it looks like he may be an end-of-bench guy for the Hawks, and if they need offense, he’ll be called upon.

During the preseason, Kispert mentioned how having a full offseason and training camp with the team was big for him coming into his second year.

“It’s been really great; I feel much more comfortable, feel more like myself, and looking forward to hitting the ground running,” Kispert said.

He showed how beneficial it was at times during the preseason, as he was able to play within the flow of the offense and get some good shots from the perimeter. He even showed an effort to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. At times, he did struggle on offense, and that would be the one concerning thing about him, as well as his defense.

Kispert lost most of his minutes down the stretch of last season probably because of his defense, and Quin Snyder was looking to shorten his rotation going into the playoffs.

With the additions of Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, it’s hard to see when he Kispert could truly get minutes on the floor. That was evident in the Hawks’ preseason finale against the Dallas Mavericks, where it resembled more of a dress rehersal for the team. Dort and Wiggins led the bench in minutes, and Kispert didn’t see time on the floor until late in the game.

For Kispert, it will most likely take someone getting in foul trouble or an injury for him to see real minutes. Nonetheless, he has to be ready when his name is called, and the hope is that he can make an impact when he’s on the floor.

The good news is that he feels better coming into the season, and that should help him throughout the season. Kispert’s still one of the better 3-point shooters on the team, and if he can show some consistency on defense, he could make a case for possibly sliding into the rotation.

It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out for him as the season goes on.

In the midst of the Spurs’ season opener, this happened:

De’Aaron Fox, in attempt to keep Chet Homlgren from an easy shot, threw him to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Whether Fox was venting some frustration about how the Spurs were playing or he was exuberant in his attempt to quell the play, the outcome was strange considering Holmgren bulked up this summer adding two lbs. to his 7’1” frame.

A skirmish quickly developed between Victor Wembanyama and every player on the Oklahoma City Thunder whose last name is Williams. A review took place with Fox landing a flagrant foul. Technicals were handed out like Halloween candy to members of both teams, and the game resumed shortly thereafter.

When asked about the incident after the game, Fox shrugged off aggression as an element of the penalty.

Fox responded by saying, “If somebody grabs you like that and you go flying on the floor like that, you got other problems to worry about.”

When asked about his reaction, Holmgren skirted around the play and focused more on his team having his back. Considering that the team has embraced flopping as part of their strategy (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander most readily resembles a Thumb Push Puppet unable to land on two feet), it stands to reason that no one on the Thunder addressed the absurdity of Holmgren’s flailing.

The internet did not let it go unnoticed. A comparison to the painting The Abduction of Persephone by Nicola Maria Rossi has made the rounds.

The Abduction of Persephone, by Nicola Maria Rossi, early 18th c pic.twitter.com/lRIgY5n1hV

— ArtButMakeItSports (@ArtButSports) October 21, 2026

The resemblance is uncannily down to Victor Wembanyama peering over his shoulder like the angel in the painting.

Missed calls and bad officiating aren’t limited to the reining MVF (most valuable flopper) and his squad, turnign a blind eye to an egregious violation is a league wide concern.

In what amounts to a “Shaqtin’ The Fool” type clip, LaMelo Ball square dances his way to the three point line. The video exposes that the Minnesota guard travels directly in front of referee Jonathan Sterling, who watches on with all the expertise of a WWE official.

Ain't no way the refs missed THIS travel ….. #nba#porvidapic.twitter.com/LQ7PtAoj34

— JeffGSpursZone (@JeffGSpursZone) October 22, 2026

We’re only one game into the season and already there is a lot of trash talk, temperatures are running hot.

Bro what was everyone on last night in the NBA?? everybody was out there beefing with everybody 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/NkrFcLQIQI

— Somi love’s you🎀 (@somi_capalot) October 22, 2026

Gotta respect Yaxel Lendeborg, One night against one of the best players in the league and he’s already unimpressed with the whining.

Yaxel Lendeborg on Luka Doncic: “Watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect.” pic.twitter.com/X8s5qaKA2n

— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) October 22, 2026

As Bette Davis would say:

Spurs are in Austin tonight against the Houston Rockets, their Interstate rivals. Go Spurs Go.

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Luka Doncic has never met a microphone he liked. Yet when Lakers staffers approached the star guard a few days before the Lakers dominated their season opener against the Golden State Warriors to ask him if he wanted to address the crowd, Doncic didn’t just agree to the task.

“Of course,” he said afterward.

Standing at the center of the home court under a spotlight, Doncic welcomed Laker Nation to a new season, one he promised would be special. In a nervy, shy, 15-second speech, Doncic also unofficially introduced a new era of himself.

This prodigy once known as the “Wonder Boy” is all grown up.

“It’s a more refined Luka,” Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean said. “He’s the same person and he still is leading with joy and that is something that he loves to do, but it’s something that is continuing to grow and understand that the Lakers leadership might be a little different than the Mavericks leadership and the 27-year-old Luka might lead a little different than the 23-year-old.”

A more mature Doncic steps into the Lakers spotlight during a transitional period for the franchise. After an amicable, but necessary split with LeBron James, who has taken his talents to Philadelphia, the Lakers are entirely Doncic’s team.

Doncic is adamant to remind anyone who asks that this is not the first time he’s been entrusted with the stewardship of a team. Don’t forget he was the youngest player in Real Madrid history to make his senior team debut.

Still only a teenager whose magical passes screamed louder than any of his two-word interview answers ever could, Doncic didn’t say a word with Real Madrid, his longtime Spanish agent Quique Villalobos said.

Instead, Doncic led by competing “like an animal” on the court. Teammates, some more than a decade older, followed that example to a EuroLeague championship in 2018. At 19, he was the youngest-ever EuroLeague most valuable player.

When Doncic plays with the Slovenian national team, his “peak leadership” comes out, said St. Jean, who worked with Doncic in Dallas as an assistant from 2021-23 and as an assistant on the Slovenian national team in 2022 and 2025. He was communicating with teammates during huddles and film sessions. He reinforced messages from coaches and added his own opinions. And while he had those same moments with the Lakers, on the national team Doncic did it all with rare consistency and confidence.

Those closest to Doncic already know this side of him. The reason it comes out most with the national team is that those players have known each other for decades, St. Jean said. They went through similar youth academies in their native country. The coaches have known Doncic since he was a boy.

“He feels like those players are his family,” Villalobos said. “He’s able to do these things when he feels comfortable in that type of atmosphere. I think he’s getting there with the Lakers.”

Read more:Lakers' new Luka Doncic era opens with rout of Warriors

It’s why Doncic brought all his Lakers teammates to Slovenia this summer on a team trip that was part basketball, part vacation and all team bonding.

The five-day mini camp was a rare moment of vulnerability for the usually guarded Doncic. He said he was nervous about the trip. He packed in pick-up games, not-so-friendly competitions of golf, rowing and bike riding, and sight-seeing throughout the Slovenian capital where Doncic first fell in love with basketball. Almost as important as learning his new teammates, Doncic wanted for them to learn about him.

“With there being so many new faces and so many new guys on the team, for him to take the initiative to step up and make sure we’re all over there and trying to build that team chemistry, that was huge,” said guard Collin Sexton, who is one of nine new players the Lakers signed this offseason.

Doncic’s dueling personalities — the charismatic showman on the court and the reserved personality off it — overlap in his generosity. He takes care of the people he loves. In the arena, that means throwing lobs that bring a smile to everyone’s face. He treated teammates to a Porsche driving experience last year, feeding his most glamorous vice of rare sports cars, and bought everyone in the Lakers organization e-bikes — 103 in total.

The appreciation extends to fans. He donated $500,000 to wildfire relief only weeks after arriving in L.A. and paid for parking for Lakers fans before games. Before the season opener, when he also covered the price of Metro bike rentals, Doncic took out a full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times, promising fans the team would “give you everything we have, every single night. No excuses. No nights off.” He asked for their support in return.

The selfless acts aren’t just feel-good stories for business. Doncic said there has always been something in him that compelled him to establish connections with fans. The responsibility in L.A. is as great as it’s ever been.

“Obviously it’s the Lakers, it’s one of the biggest organizations in the world, if not the biggest,” Doncic said. “A lot of honor, just to be the face of the franchise and, you know, I hope I can stay here long.”

Doncic once thought he would retire a Dallas Maverick, building deep bonds with the fan base and franchise that traded for him on draft day and watched him soar to the NBA Finals. He has seen how the best-laid plans go awry. While teammates still marveled at his talent during his debut season in L.A., they also noticed that he kept to himself off the court at first.

Doncic is naturally shy, St. Jean said. He’s been that way even as a teenager. Villalobos met him thinking the 14-year-old prodigy he was trying to recruit to his agency would have the same outgoing personality off the court that he did on it.

But he’s just a simple guy, Villalobos testifies. After viciously hitting step-back threes, trash talking anyone who dares tempt him and racking up two NBA scoring titles, Doncic just likes to stay home, maybe get lunch or play cards. Despite becoming a Slovenian hero with the national team, he still slept at the same team hotel, shared meals with his teammates and had no problem wearing the same practice gear, St. Jean said.

Doncic loves his two daughters — Gabriela, 2, and Olivia, 10 months — and wears their initials on his shoes during games. Sexton called him “a jokester” off the court. He’s just goofy, said Lakers guard Jaden Hardy, who played with Doncic in Dallas from 2022-2025.

“To be clear, he’s not a normal human being,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said with a smile. “But in terms of, like, a superstar, he’s just normal.”

The transformation from on-court assassin to reserved father of two is like Clark Kent and Superman, St. Jean said. Only instead of just peacefully apprehending opponents, Doncic’s super-competitive alter ego wants to smash them all under an array of increasingly rude step-back jumpers.

“All of the great, great players that have ever played have also been in the 1% competitor [level],” St. Jean said. “They’ve always been the guy that is able to inspire the players around him and be able to do things that don’t even seem like they’re possible. And he does that nightly.”

Maybe competing for a championship in this top-heavy Western Conference doesn’t seem possible for Doncic and the Lakers. He’s pulled off more difficult magic tricks.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Imagine your employer had an excellent year and you were in line for an award, one you earned through great effort, extensive travel, and long nights. Instead of receiving it, however, you’re handed an IOU note at the ceremony. Or worse, you were gotcha-ed with a fake email about the award, just to test the company’s cybersecurity.

Your response might justifiably range “from genuine anger to annoyance,” as Joe Vardon of The Athletic puts it.

When Vardon describes this very scenario in his latest report, he’s not talking about the slighted workers of a local plumbing supply company. He’s talking about the assistant coaches and staff of the world champion New York Knicks.

At Tuesday’s season opener, the presentation (broadcast nationally on NBC) made it appear the Knicks assistant coaches were receiving championship rings during the pregame banner ceremony. The boxes they were handed? Empty.

It came as no surprise to the assistants. They hadn’t even been fitted for rings, and the empty boxes were a token gesture so they wouldn’t feel left out. Token gestures can backfire on you, though, especially when they seem, perhaps, insincere. The Knicks coaches were upset, according to Vardon, on a scale from mild irritation to very spicy.

In quintessential Knicks fashion, the organization’s statement on the situation is, “We are not disclosing anything about the rings.” Because robots need not acknowledge the petty concerns of disposable humans.

One of the most stunning quotes from Vardon’s piece is this:

“The Athletic received conflicting information about whether head coach Mike Brown received his ring on Tuesday and could not immediately verify if he got one.”

What? We can’t confirm if coach Mike Brown got a ring? What??

The story careens off a cliff from there. Vardon notes, “Many longtime employees at Madison Square Garden, including some who work in the Knicks’ business operations, will not receive rings at all […]. Typically, most employees for NBA teams receive rings, even if they are not as fancy and expensive as the ones the players receive.” Yes, some franchises reward the plebes, but not the NBA’s second-most valuable one. Enter Gordon Gekko, stage left.

However, in September, MSG sent employees a fake championship ring offer. The email congratulated recipients and invited them to select one of two complimentary ring designs: “Championship Gold” or “Garden Classic.” But ha on you, fools! The email was actually an internal phishing test. Employees who clicked the link were assigned mandatory cybersecurity training rather than receive a ring.

What kind of cold, villainous monster says, “You know how we’re not giving the employees championship rings? One hilarious way to test our cybersecurity would be….”

Oh, the team ain’t hurting for money. The Knicks reportedly generated $640 million in revenue during their championship season, while the franchise’s estimated valuation climbed 29% to $12.6 billion, making it the NBA’s second-most valuable team.

Giving New York the benefit of the doubt, those rings must be difficult to manufacture. Designed by Jason Arasheben of Jason of Beverly Hills, the Knicks’ blingy ring features roughly 800 diamonds and sapphires totaling 22 carats, set in white gold. Its elaborate design includes a mechanical pop-up replica of Madison Square Garden, 16 emerald-cut diamonds representing the team’s playoff victories, and a 0.16-carat diamond set in the Larry O’Brien Trophy. One cannot gaze for long upon the ring before weeping, and it must be returned to Mount Doom post haste!

The Knicks won in mid-June, leaving about four months for design, contract, and construction. That’s a tight schedule. Delays aren’t unprecedented in the NBA, and according to team sources, the assistants will eventually receive rings. Still, other championship teams have distributed coaches’ rings on opening night, so…

Who are we talking about, exactly? The championship coaching staff included associate head coach Chris Jent, assistants Rick Brunson, Mark Bryant, Darren Erman, Riccardo Fois, Brendan O’Connor, and TJ Saint, along with several player development coaches and advisors (including one of the greatest names in NBA history, the legendary Mo Cheeks!). These were among the people who helped deliver New York’s first NBA championship in 53 years.

To recap: What should have been a celebration of the Knicks’ victory instead exposed tiresome and familiar organizational dysfunction, with coaches handed empty boxes and longtime employees subjected to a misleading phishing exercise. Team owner James Dolan proves once again to be tone-deaf, and this time not by singing at the mic.

A franchise worth billions, a championship decades in the making, and apparently not enough goodwill to go around. How come they win it all and still feel like LOLKnicks?

Read Vardon’s full article here. Go Knicks.

It may be just the second game of an 82-game regular season, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early for the San Antonio Spurs to get a bad taste out of their mouths. The bad taste in question would be their opening night loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which featured some dreadful shooting from the Silver and Black and included a putrid 2nd quarter where they went just 3/21 from the field.

While their opponent tonight, the Houston Rockets, aren’t considered to be in the same tier as OKC and San Antonio, they still boast a formidable roster built around the older, yet still effective enigma that is Kevin Durant and a mix of younger talent. The Rockets went 52-30 in Durant’s first year, which featured drama off the court in-season and injury woes before the season even started with the loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet to an ACL tear that cost him his season. VanVleet is back in the fold now though and Houston is hoping that having a proper point guard in place alongside Durant, do-it-all big man Alperen Sengun, and other young talents in Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson can at least give them a fighting chance in the Western conference.

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San Antonio Spurs (0-1) at Houston Rockets (1-0)
October 23 2026 | 8:30 PM CT
Watch: Amazon Prime | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Line: San Antonio -6.5

Spurs Injuries: De’Aaron Fox, wrist (game-time decision), Keldon Johnson, laceration (game-time decision), Tobias Harris, calf (OUT), Jayden Quaintance, (OUT)

Rockets Injuries: Steven Adams, calf (day to day)

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What to watch for

• In their own home/season opener against yet another Texas opponent the Dallas Mavericks, Houston got an idea of they were missing last year with the absence of Fred VanFleet. Due largely in part to VanVleet’s injury, the Rockets played much of last year without a true, proven point guard to run their offense, relying instead on Durant and other wing players to handle the majority of the ball-security and playmaking. That arrangement led to mixed results, as the Rockets were one of the worst teams in the league last year at both protecting the ball (14.4 turnovers per game, ranked 24th) and bottom 10 in assists per game. VanVleet wasted no time showing Houston what they were missing last season, as he had 11 assists and 0 turnovers in 29 minutes in the 128-110 win over the Mavericks.
• No one should have a worst taste in their mouth than Victor Wembanyama, who was practically non-existent on offense against the Thunder with a 1/13 shooting performance. Wembanyama is a generation-defining player on the defensive side of the ball and has made significant strides as an offensive player since coming into the league, but he occassionally still gets in his own head on that end of the floor, something he alluded to following the loss. With guys still finding their legs and getting their game-wind up at the dawn of a new season, there’s no reason to think that Game 1 was anything but an aberration for the French Wonder. Wembanyama averaged 23 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and nearly 3 blocks a game in four games against Houston last season.
• The highly anticipated three-guard line-up made its debut against the Thunder to somewhat mixed results. While all three had solid individual games, nothing they did was able to get the San Antonio offense out of the mud. The most glaring deficiency that was on display though was that none of them are really super willing 3-pt shooters. They shot a lackluster 5/14 from behind the arc. All 5 of the makes and 12 of those attempts came from Castle, who can get hot from time to time but really isn’t known for his shooting prowess, while Harper and Fox both went 0/2. While the bulk of the blame falls on Wembanyama’s shoulders for his poor showing in that season opener, being surrounded by good-not-great shooters who are all at their best trying to get downhill can certainly help opposing defenses keep one foot a bit closer to both the paint and Wembanyama.

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If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!

LeBron James says his home debut was "everything that I dreamed of and more" after the Philadelphia 76ers turned boos into cheers by overhauling a 29-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106.

It is the largest comeback win of James' 24-season NBA career and also the largest comeback by the 76ers in the play-by-play era, which began in 1996-97.

Booed from the court after trailing 69-45 at half-time, Philadelphia took the lead for the first time with just under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, with a spell of 15 unanswered points putting them 104-95 ahead.

Although the Cavaliers, one of James' three previous franchises, pulled it back to 106-102, the 76ers held firm having emphatically outscored their visitors 69-37 in the second half.

James contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals while fellow home debutant Jaylen Brown scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

Tyrese Maxey top-scored for the Sixers with 32 points, with Joel Emiid adding 24.

"We got the boos. That was amazing and we deserved it. And then we got the cheers and almost blew the roof off this thing, in a good way. It was a hell of a night," said James, who joined the 76ers on a two-year contract.

The result caps off a thrilling start for James at his fourth franchise, after the Sixers defeated the New York Knicks 106-100 on the opening night of the season to spoil the defending champions' homecoming.

However, he also had to respond to criticism from President Donald Trump, who labelled the 41-year-old a "total disgrace" for not standing still during the national anthem before Tuesday's win over the Knicks.

"It must be a slow news day at the office," James said on Thursday night.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse said his side are used to tuning out such distractions, adding: "I think that goes right in with other outside noise we've already had.

"I keep saying the same thing. All I really care about is getting to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor. The focus that they've had and the intent has been outstanding."

No one has to remind you of the soul-crushing events that occurred less than 48 hours ago. The invocation of Ty Jerome’s name is enough to set fire to South Temple Street. Of course, one loss has near-no significance in the grand scheme of an 82-game season.

Utah will have a fresh set of feet along with a home crowd to cheer them on. Lost in a crowd of overreactions, people seem to forget the peak of the Jazz in the small three-game sample Jaren Jackson Jr. played when they were actively trying to sabotage games — oh yeah, we have Darryn Peterson now.

New Orleans, on the other hand, played slightly better in their season opener, finishing in a close 123-120 loss to the Indiana Pacers; of course, it was Haliburton who nailed the game-icing shot. They’ve got a fire lit under them that will certainly not make things any easier for the bounce-back hopeful Jazz, despite being low-ranked in the power rankings.

Injury Report

Jazz Injury Report (as of 10/22)

OUT – Trey Alexander (G League – Two-Way)

OUT – Harrison Ingram (G League – Two-Way)

OUT – Jusuf Nurkic (right foot; 2nd plantar plate tear)

QUESTIONABLE – Tony Bradley (left quadriceps; strain)

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 22, 2026

0 listed on Thursday's injury report ahead of our game at Utah#Pelicans | @MorrisBartLLChttps://t.co/zyyDL9nnpk

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 22, 2026

Don’t underestimate these lowly Pels

The most prevalent concern shown in Game One was the lack of assertion in the restricted area. Memphis held a 55-38 rebound advantage, which included a 15-5 advantage on offensive rebounds. The Grizzlies scored 17 points on these second-chance opportunities.

Lauri Markkanen discussing the Jazz's rebounding: pic.twitter.com/2gQxHDrKG8

— JP Chunga (@JP_Chunga) October 22, 2026

The struggle with containing downhill players will probably continue tonight.

Despite the Pelicans finishing near the bottom of the barrel last season — completely unintentionally, I may add — their crashing of the glass on the offensive end stood out as a major bright spot. Five Pelicans averaged over 5 rebounds per game, and the immediate impact of rookie Derik Queen anchoring the boards could prove to be a major threat to the Jazz’s weaknesses carried into 2026-27.

What they do struggle with, however, is the extremely poor spacing around a rim-reliant star. They didn’t have a consistent stretch big, and the offense relied too much on Zion or Dejounte Murray to score isolated buckets rather than on a cohesive team-first approach.

It does seem that these habits are going to die under newly appointed head coach Jamahl Mosley. Zion Williamson attempted four triples. He made 50% of them. I have not been that shocked at a three-point party since Walker Kessler decided he could simply start hitting them.

ZION WILLIAMSON BUZZER BEATER FROM 3

ITS GETTING SCARY pic.twitter.com/9e3Q6K9tWz

— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) October 22, 2026

Staying cool and collective

But do you know what really grinds my gears? It’s the calendar year of 2026, and the turnover bug still haunts the Utah Jazz. Taking care of the ball is the ultimate key to this matchup. Both teams yielded matching 18-turnover games on opening night, fuelling heavy fastbreak runs for their opponents.

Keyonte George handles the majority of the creation, but there really isn’t much to go off of other than that. Darryn Peterson scored a quiet 9 points in his debut, but there’s no doubt in mind that the Jazz will look to truly unlock him against New Orleans’ tough POA defender Herb Jones.

Without the steady hands of the injured Jusuf Nurkić to act as a high-post hub, it will likely become a recurring story of the young backcourt guards finding themselves trapped.

Whichever team successfully tightens their passing windows and controls the pace will have a massive advantage.

The Jazz had 12 blocks against Memphis, their most in a game since November 2023.

Memphis had 17 more shots, 15 offensive rebounds, 23 fast-break points and 45 from Ty Jerome.

Utah’s issue wasn’t protecting the rim. It was everything before and after the shot. 😅 pic.twitter.com/HXDmgKjtrn

— SleeperJazz (@SleeperJazz) October 23, 2026

Nevertheless, don’t worry about the critics. Don’t worry about what the box score says. Don’t worry about Jazz ‘fans’ themselves. No one can stop you from enjoying competitive Jazz basketball again.

Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans—How to Watch:

Who: Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

When: 7:30pm Mountain Daylight Time

How to Watch: KJZZ, Jazz+ (in market) or NBA League Pass (out of market)

From boos to a roar, Sixers give Philadelphia the night it needed originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Over the last three weeks, it has not exactly been Always Sunny around the sports complex on South Broad Street.

There has not been much to cheer for, either.

The Phillies fell to the division-rival Braves in the National League Wild Card Series. The struggling Eagles lost Jalen Hurts for what is expected to be the remainder of the season after blood clots were discovered. The Flyers opened their season with a franchise-record nine-game winless streak.

Things had been heading in the wrong direction during the spooky month of October. That might be an understatement.

So, sure, there was weight attached to the start of the Sixers’ season.

After stealing a victory in the hectic environment of Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, the Sixers returned to Philadelphia for one of the city’s most highly anticipated basketball events in decades.

A sellout crowd of 21,423 packed Xfinity Mobile Arena for the home debuts of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in red, white and blue. Boyz II Men performed the national anthem. Philadelphia boxing icon Bernard Hopkins rang the bell. Allen Iverson sat courtside.

The video-board presentation played like a movie trailer before public-address announcer Matt Cord introduced the starting lineups. His familiar, drawn-out delivery left just enough room for the crowd to insert “sucks” after the name of every visiting Cavalier.

Then the Sixers’ starters were introduced.

The place shook.

“You could really feel it before the game, probably more than ever that I’ve been here, for sure,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “Just the general buzz and all that kind of stuff.”

That buzz did not last uninterrupted.

Turnover after turnover. Mistake after mistake. Cleveland began pulling away while sucking the energy out of an increasingly anxious crowd.

Donovan Mitchell closed his 22-point first half with a seven-foot turnaround shot, assisted by former Sixer James Harden. It pushed Cleveland’s lead to 69-40 with 1:12 remaining.

Twenty-nine points.

The Sixers committed 15 first-half turnovers. The Cavaliers shot 51 percent from the floor. What had started as a celebration became an all-out chorus of boos.

By halftime, the fans had seemingly run out of things to boo. The halftime drone show did not escape them.

James understood.

“Got the boos,” he said. “That was amazing. We deserved it.”

The Sixers entered the locker room trailing 69-45. The players discussed how they would respond. The fans received a chance to reset, too.

When the Sixers came back onto the floor, there was soon nothing left to boo.

Philadelphia scored the first 11 points of the third quarter in 78 seconds. Brown hit a three-pointer. VJ Edgecombe converted a three-point play. Maxey stole the ball from Peyton Watson and found James, who scored through contact. James then fed Joel Embiid for a layup.

The deficit was down to 13.

Maxey picked up Harden for nearly the entire length of the floor. The Sixers began forcing turnovers and attacking the paint. They put together another 11-0 run later in the quarter.

With 5:21 remaining, Maxey pulled up for a 27-foot three-pointer that cut Cleveland’s lead to seven.

That was when the building found its voice again.

“When he hit that three, that’s certainly as loud as I’ve heard it here,” Nurse said. “You come back from 29 down, that’s pretty fun as a fan to ride that wave.”

Momentum began moving back and forth between the floor and the stands.

The Sixers gave their fans another reason to believe. The crowd pushed them to keep going.

“The energy was great,” Brown said. “The crowd helped us get back into that game. We didn’t do ourselves any favors in the first half, but I think Cleveland felt the atmosphere and they felt the crowd in that second half. It helped us crawl back.”

Philadelphia outscored Cleveland 37-21 in the third quarter. The Sixers began it down 24 and finished it down eight.

As “Enter Sandman” played through the arena before the fourth quarter, the crowd stood. The song is best known around sports as a closer’s entrance.

The Sixers still had to finish the job.

Cleveland pushed its lead back to six early in the fourth before Philadelphia delivered its final surge.

Embiid converted a three-point play and then hit a jumper that gave the Sixers their first lead of the night. Brown scored the next six points. Maxey finished the 15-0 run with a basket that pushed Philadelphia ahead, 104-95.

The game had turned completely.

So had the mood inside the arena.

When Maxey and Harden went nose-to-nose and exchanged shoves during the fourth quarter, the crowd responded with a loud, not-for-print chant directed at Harden.

When Edgecombe returned to the floor with cotton in his nose after taking an accidental elbow from James, the fans applauded his toughness. The second-year player clapped back at them.

“I think that’s the loudest I’ve ever heard Xfinity since I’ve been there,” Edgecombe said. “Shout out to them for not leaving after halftime when you’re down 25 points. That’s big time. I love how the fans supported us tonight.

“They helped us win that game.”

Cleveland made one final push and cut the Sixers’ advantage to 106-102. Mitchell then missed two free throws.

Maxey answered with a driving floater. James stole the ball from Evan Mobley on Cleveland’s next possession, and Brown finished at the other end.

Brown later punctuated the comeback with a driving dunk in the closing seconds.

The Sixers won, 114-106, after trailing by 29. They outscored Cleveland 69-37 after halftime and completed the largest comeback in franchise history during the play-by-play era.

Embiid has experienced nearly every version of a Philadelphia crowd during his years with the Sixers. He has heard the building during playoff runs, his MVP ceremony and plenty of memorable individual performances.

Thursday stood with any of them.

“That was probably top five for me since I’ve been in Philadelphia,” Embiid said. “That was amazing. I have no words.”

The night carried a different meaning for James.

It was his fourth home debut with a new franchise, but his family helped make this one personal. His daughter, Zhuri, spent her 12th birthday courtside. The Sixers displayed her name and a birthday message on the video board. James’ mother was there, too.

“Super special for me to be able to have moments like this in this building, in this city,” James said. “Philly is damn sure right up at the top. I’m happy to be here. I’m extremely happy.”

Philadelphia did not give James and his new teammates unconditional support Thursday night. That would not have been authentic.

The fans arrived ready to celebrate. They booed when the Sixers gave them every reason to boo. Then they stayed, believed and nearly lifted the roof when the team gave them a reason to believe.

For one night, South Philadelphia had something to celebrate again.

“It was everything that I dreamed of and more,” James said.