The Philadelphia 76ers made an excellent start to the season on the New York Knicks' court, with LeBron James enjoying a winning debut. The 76ers aim to build on that success at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers have not played for some time.
Philadelphia 76ers
A standout opening-day fixture pitted the revamped Philadelphia 76ers against the reigning champions. Away to the New York Knicks, the 76ers turned the game around after half-time, winning the third quarter by a clear margin (29:18). Philadelphia had the better field-goal percentage (41.6%), while LeBron James and Brown combined for 33 points on their debuts — securing a deserved 106:100 victory.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a painful defeat to the Orlando Magic in their final pre-season game (116:132). Donovan Mitchell and James Harden played limited minutes for the Cavaliers, but losing to an underdog with their leading stars involved is still concerning. Cleveland have not become weaker over the summer, but an important question remains unanswered — how will their leading players share the ball?
Philadelphia 76ers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated their head-to-head meetings with the Philadelphia 76ers, winning four consecutive games. The 76ers are now much stronger and have already won in the regular season, while the Cavaliers lack match sharpness. The hosts should cover the positive handicap.
