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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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LeBron James has experienced just about everything during his legendary NBA career, but his first home game with the Philadelphia 76ers delivered something he had never accomplished before.
The 41-year-old superstar helped Philadelphia overcome a 29-point deficit Thursday night, completing the largest comeback victory of his career in a thrilling 114-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The victory gave James a memorable introduction to his new home crowd while providing an early statement about the potential of Philadelphia's star-studded roster.
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James finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but it was the collective effort of his new teammates that helped the Sixers pull off the historic comeback.
Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 32 points, while Joel Embiid added 24 and fellow offseason acquisition Jaylen Brown contributed 21.
The Cavaliers appeared to be in complete control during the first half, building a 29-point advantage and putting the Sixers in danger of suffering an embarrassing defeat in their home opener. However, Philadelphia emerged from halftime with renewed energy, increasing its defensive pressure and gradually cutting into Cleveland's lead.
The Sixers outscored the Cavaliers 69-37 in the second half, completely changing the momentum of the game.
Philadelphia eventually used a 15-0 fourth-quarter run to take control, with Embiid helping the Sixers move ahead before Brown delivered several key baskets down the stretch.
The comeback was the largest in Philadelphia franchise history during the NBA's play-by-play era, which began in the 1997-98 season.
It also marked the biggest comeback victory of James' 24-year NBA career, adding another milestone to an already historic résumé.
The moment carried additional significance because it came against Cleveland, the franchise that selected James with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
James spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers and helped deliver the organization's first championship in 2016.
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Now beginning a new chapter in Philadelphia, the four-time NBA champion is hoping to bring similar success to a franchise seeking its first title since 1983. Thursday's victory also improved the Sixers to 2-0 after their season-opening win over the defending champion New York Knicks.
Although the season is still young, Philadelphia has already demonstrated its ability to compete against some of the Eastern Conference's strongest teams.
And for James, his first home game as a Sixer provided another unforgettable moment in a career filled with them.
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