Cavaliers Beat LeBron James, 76ers in Cleveland Return
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-95 on Friday in LeBron James' first game back in Cleveland since joining Philadelphia.
- 8 points for James on 3-of-12 shooting, with six turnovers.
- 0-for-9 from the field for Joel Embiid, who scored six points.
- 23 points for Donovan Mitchell; Evan Mobley added 22.
- 11th game under 10 points in James' 1,630-game career.
Why it matters: James, 41, picked Philadelphia over a third Cleveland stint, believing it offered a better title shot. The loss was the Sixers' second this season.
- James had averaged 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists before Friday.
- James credited teammate Tyrese Maxey with helping him choose Philadelphia.
How 13 sources split on this story
Where they split: Outlets differ on whether the night's story was Cleveland's warm welcome for James or his poor performance and the boos that followed.
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center split between the warm pregame welcome and James' struggles once the game began.
Left coverage, 4 sources: The left-rated Cleveland outlet framed the game as the Cavaliers' chance to answer James choosing Philadelphia over a homecoming.
Right coverage, 2 sources: The right focused on James' reaction to the crowd and on fans online calling his performance embarrassing.
What’s next: James returns to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Christmas Day.
- He plays the Heat in Miami on Jan. 30.
- Philadelphia visits Cleveland again on March 1, 2027.
- Is Friday an off-night or a sign of decline for James and Embiid?
- Can the 76ers hold their early standing near the top of the East?
