(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
LeBron James gave Philadelphia 76ers fans an early glimpse of his potential chemistry with Tyrese Maxey during his first preseason game in Philadelphia, delivering a two-handed dunk that sent the sellout crowd into a frenzy Friday night.
James caught a long pass from Maxey and finished at the rim, providing one of the highlights of the Sixers’ 125-120 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The 41-year-old forward finished with eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 25 minutes as he continued preparing for his 24th NBA season, his first with Philadelphia after spending the previous eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers.
James and Maxey Show Early Chemistry
The dunk highlighted the connection between James and Maxey, who played a role in convincing the veteran forward to join Philadelphia during the offseason.
James said the pair’s chemistry could help the Sixers generate offense in transition.
“This is a connection that we have,” James said. “Some of the best things for us offensively is going to be to get up the floor.”
The two also connected in the half-court, with their movement creating opportunities around the basket. James later grabbed a rebound and found Maxey in stride for a layup, offering another glimpse of their developing partnership.
Philadelphia drew an announced crowd of 19,746, giving fans their first opportunity to see James in his No. 23 jersey at home. He received a loud ovation during introductions and performed his signature chalk toss before the game.
James had previously played in an open scrimmage attended by approximately 10,000 fans and made his preseason debut against Brooklyn, recording 10 points, five assists and four rebounds in the first half.
Embiid Leads Sixers Despite Overtime Loss
Joel Embiid delivered Philadelphia’s strongest individual performance, finishing with 27 points and eight rebounds. He also threw down an emphatic one-handed dunk in the third quarter, drawing another big reaction from the crowd.
Jaylen Brown, facing his former team for the first time since joining Philadelphia, added 20 points and eight rebounds. Maxey contributed 22 points and six assists.
However, the Sixers struggled with turnovers and offensive execution as they continued adjusting to a roster featuring several major additions. Head coach Nick Nurse acknowledged that the team needed to become more careful with its decisions, even when creating the right opportunities.
The game also marked the first preseason appearance for Philadelphia’s starting group featuring James, Maxey, Brown and Embiid together, with VJ Edgecombe sitting out for precautionary reasons.
Sixers Prepare for Regular Season
James acknowledged that Philadelphia still needs time to develop its rhythm ahead of the regular season.
“We’re getting there.” James said. “We’re a couple of weeks in. We’re still working on our rhythm, working on our kinks. It’s not going to be perfect.”
The Sixers open their regular-season schedule Tuesday against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Their home opener follows Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Friday’s result will not count toward the regular-season standings, but James’ connection with Maxey and the team’s adjustment to its new lineup will remain key storylines as Philadelphia begins its campaign.
