Sixers host Cavaliers in home opener as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown debut in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia 76ers were set to play their first home game of the season Thursday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, giving newly added stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown their first regular-season appearance before a Philadelphia crowd as members of the team.

FOX 29 reported that tip-off was scheduled for 7 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with ESPN carrying the game nationally. The opponent is James's former team.

The Sixers arrive home after opening the season Tuesday with a 106-100 road win over the New York Knicks, the defending NBA champions, at Madison Square Garden on the night the Knicks marked their title. According to FOX 29, Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 28 points. Brown, acquired from Boston, added 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while James had 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists to begin his 24th season, an NBA record.

SEPTA, in partnership with Fulton Bank, planned free rides on the Broad Street Line from NRG Station between 8 p.m. and midnight for fans leaving the game, FOX 29 reported. The outlet also said longtime public address announcer Matt Cord would be back at the microphone after reversing his retirement once the team added Brown and James.

"Then [the Sixers] made a trade for Jaylen Brown on July 1 and my phone started blowing up a little," Cord told FOX 29.

NBC10 reported that fans attending the opener would receive a commemorative T-shirt featuring the players.

According to 6abc, the team held a weeklong "Blue Week" celebration ahead of the game, with city landmarks lit up and giveaways for fans. The station also reported that a new James mural, painted by Upper Darby native Chuck Styles and commissioned by Nike, appeared in Fishtown at Frankford Avenue and Girard Avenue. It is one of at least three James-themed murals around the city, 6abc said.

Demand for seats has climbed sharply. Ticket resale platform TickPick told 6abc that prices for the opener were eight times higher than last year's, and that 13% of sales for Thursday's game came overnight after the win in New York.

CBS Philadelphia noted that James has played in the city before. In December 2002, as a high school senior with St. Vincent-St. Mary, he scored 28 points in an 85-47 win over Strawberry Mansion before a sold-out crowd at the Palestra. James referenced that game at his introductory news conference in September, describing the hostility visiting players face from Philadelphia fans.

"Happy to be on this side, though," James said, according to CBS Philadelphia.

Compiled by True News from reporting by FOX 29 Philadelphia, CBS Philadelphia, NBC10 Philadelphia and 6abc Action News. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/341