76ers erase a 29-point deficit to stun the Cavaliers 114-106 in LeBron James' first home game in Philly

Down 29 points in their home opener, the Philadelphia 76ers did not panic. They came all the way back.

Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points and Joel Embiid added 24 as the Sixers stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on Thursday night. LeBron James, playing his first home game in a Sixers uniform, had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the biggest comeback win of his career.

Fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown scored 21. Philadelphia is now 2-0 with wins over the champion New York Knicks and last season's Eastern Conference finalist Cavaliers.

From boos to bedlam

The first half was ugly for the home team. The Sixers missed 11 of 15 3-point tries and turned the ball over 14 times. The sellout crowd booed late in the second quarter. Donovan Mitchell scored 22 of his 32 points before the break as Cleveland led 69-45 at halftime and later pushed the lead to 29.

Then Maxey took over on defense. He sparked a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter that flipped the game. Embiid scored seven straight points to make it 96-95 and the Cavaliers could not find an answer down the stretch.

Tempers flared along the way. Maxey and his former teammate James Harden went nose-to-nose in the fourth quarter before they were pulled apart.

LeBron gets his moments

James, 41, signed a two-year deal with Philadelphia for the veteran minimum after flirting with a third stint in Cleveland. He brought the crowd to its feet with an uncontested two-handed dunk in the first half and later scored off a Maxey steal.

The buzz was huge before tipoff. Lower-bowl tickets were listed for around $4,000 on resale sites.

'You're depressed, quite honestly'

Before the game Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson admitted that losing out on James this summer stung. Cleveland was one of five finalists and the only one James visited in person.

"When you're expecting something to happen and it doesn't happen, that first day or two, you're just like, you're depressed, quite honestly," Atkinson said. He praised the front office for quickly pivoting to a five-team trade for forward Peyton Watson.

Cleveland hosts Brooklyn in its home opener Saturday. The Sixers stay home for a back-to-back against Milwaukee on Saturday and Detroit on Sunday.