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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2025-26 season effectively ended when they squandered a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the eventual champions. Fittingly, they started this season by blowing a 29-point lead to a Philadelphia 76ers team that could become the eventual champions.
Three stars of the game
First star: Tyrese Maxey
32 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
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The Sixers came out flat and struggled to establish any kind of momentum after an emotional victory on Tuesday against the New York Knicks. They could’ve rolled over after they fell behind by 29 points, but their best player kept fighting.
Maxey’s energy and effort in the first half kept the game somewhat manageable. Then, his shot-making in the third and fourth quarters helped close the gap and get them over the hump.
LeBron James’s decision to go to Philadelphia was a bet on Maxey being ready to take the next step forward and become a top-tier star in this league. Through two games, he has to feel good about that gamble.
Second star: LeBron James
17 points, 5 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals
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James wasn’t spectacular on the court. The days of him single-handedly taking over games are long behind him — yet few players influence winning more than he does.
LeBron used to control the game with the ball in his hands. He would dictate the matchup he wanted and bend his opponent to his will. Now, he does the same thing by being a chess master behind each move, without being the one actually making every play.
Here, James deferred to his teammates when he needed to, he told the defense where to go to take away Cleveland’s bigs, and he picked his spots to score when they were there.
The Sixers needed a steadying presence when things got tight. James provided that with consistent high-IQ plays on both ends. And in the process, he also showed why this Cavs team desperately needed James to choose them last summer.
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Third star: Donovan Mitchell
32 points, 3 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Mitchell was phenomenal this game. He’s a world-class scorer who proved that once again in a showcase game. Thirty-two points on 19 shot attempts is…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/diving-deeper-cavs-opening-night-030000028.html
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Publish date : 2026-10-23 03:00:00
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