The Philadelphia 76ers lost 114-108 to the Brooklyn Nets in their preseason matchup at Barclays Center on Thursday, October 8, as LeBron James made his debut for a revamped Philadelphia lineup.
The 76ers dropped to 1-1 in preseason play, while Brooklyn improved to 2-0. Philadelphia kept the game close through two quarters but was outscored 37-23 in the third, a stretch that proved decisive.
James finished with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds in 18 minutes. He shot 1-of-1 from the field and made all eight of his free throws, while also recording one steal. The veteran forward helped set up early baskets for VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey and assisted Dean Wade on a three-pointer in the first quarter.
Jaylen Brown led Philadelphia with 18 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Maxey added 14 points in 19 minutes, while Edgecombe contributed 11 points and five rebounds.
Joel Embiid had six points, three rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes, but committed eight turnovers. The 76ers finished with 21 turnovers overall, compared with 14 for Brooklyn, and shot 47% from the field and 30% from three-point range.
The teams were tied 33-33 after the opening quarter, and Philadelphia held a 58-56 lead at halftime. Brooklyn took control after the break, however, scoring 37 points in the third quarter to build a 93-81 advantage heading into the final period.
The Nets maintained their cushion despite Philadelphia’s late push. The 76ers cut the deficit to 107-109 after Justin Edwards hit a three-pointer with 1:14 remaining, but Brooklyn responded with a basket from Ben Humrichous and late free throws to secure the win.
Egor Demin scored 13 points and dished out five assists for Brooklyn, while Julius Randle added 14 points and six rebounds. Keon Ellis finished with 12 points, and Noah Clowney contributed 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting, including two three-pointers.
Brooklyn also received a boost from its reserves. Nolan Traore scored 12 points, while Danny Wolf and Chaney Johnson added nine points apiece. The Nets shot 44% from the field and made 11 of 34 attempts from beyond the arc.
