LeBron James Debuts for Philadelphia 76ers in Preseason Action Against Boston Celtics
LeBron James made his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers, logging 10 points, five assists, and four rebounds in an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Nets. The career scoring leader entered his NBA-record 24th season following a summer move to Philadelphia, playing his first half in a blue uniform that sat folded next to his locker chair.
While James and fellow newcomer Jaylen Brown shared the floor with returning starters Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe to build an early 58-56 halftime lead for the Sixers, the team’s broader preseason slate brought contrasting results across the league. A heavily rotated Philadelphia squad later fell 125-120 in overtime to a depleted Boston Celtics team playing without its entire starting five.
San Antonio Spurs Dominate Sacramento Kings Behind Victor Wembanyama
The San Antonio Spurs overwhelmed the Sacramento Kings 126-97 at the Frost Bank Center after establishing a commanding 42-18 lead by the end of the first quarter. Victor Wembanyama anchored the blowout by recording 14 points and eight rebounds for the hosts. The 22-year-old Frenchman highlighted the evening early in the first quarter by blocking a shot, dribbling the length of the court, and tossing himself an alley-oop. Ben Simmons led the Kings with 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Zach LaVine contributed 20 points for the visitors.
Pero qué es esto de Wembanyama 😳 pic.twitter.com/jL16CtC0Tn
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks dropped a 135-111 decision to the Atlanta Hawks. Cooper Flag paced Dallas with 26 points and 12 rebounds, though the Hawks capitalized on 21 three-pointers. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 points, hitting six shots from beyond the arc, while Jalen Johnson notched a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds as Atlanta secured the win.
Sixers Fall to Celtics in Overtime After Starters Rotate Out
Philadelphia squandered a 14-point lead against Boston when head coach Nick Nurse began resting his primary rotation, allowing the Celtics to claw back and seal a 125-120 victory in extra time. Jaylen Brown paced the Sixers with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting alongside eight rebounds. Joel Embiid contributed 27 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 11-of-13 on free throws, while Tyrese Maxey added 22 points.
In his home arena debut following his arrival from the Los Angeles Lakers, James recorded eight points, eight rebounds, and seven assists across 25 minutes of action against Boston. The 41-year-old veteran missed all three of his free-throw attempts and failed to convert both of his three-point attempts. The absence of rotation players VJ Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, and Anfernee Simons ultimately hampered Philadelphia’s depth during Boston’s late-game surge.
Orlando Magic Defeat Miami Heat as Franz Wagner Sustains Shoulder Injury
The Orlando Magic secured a 136-115 victory over the Miami Heat on a busy night of preseason fixtures across the association. Despite the win, Orlando faces roster concerns regarding Franz Wagner, who suffered an injury to his right shoulder during the contest.
Across other matchups on the schedule, the Detroit Pistons edged the Toronto Raptors 129-125, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 128-127, and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-116. The Memphis Grizzlies topped the Charlotte Hornets 116-98, the New Orleans Pelicans edged the Washington Wizards 107-106, the Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 119-116, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 128-118, and the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 121-106.
Regular Season Opener Approaches in New York
The Philadelphia 76ers wrap up their exhibition schedule with remaining matchups against the Boston Celtics before turning their attention to the regular season. Philadelphia opens its campaign on Oct. 20, 2026, against the New York Knicks in New York, where the Knicks will raise the banner to celebrate their NBA championship.