Cavaliers Rout Sixers 119-95 as LeBron James Scores Just Eight Points
The NBA's all-time scoring leader posted his 10th single-digit game in a frustrating return to Northeast Ohio.
By Luka Evans ·
LeBron James has played in 1,630 NBA regular-season games, and only in his 10th attempt did he finish with fewer than 10 points. That streak ended Friday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 119-95 in an NBA Cup group stage matchup. James scored eight points for the visiting team, a performance that left him with a 9-5 record in his last three trips to Cleveland.
The Akron, Ohio, native was 3 of 12 from the field. He missed all four of his three-point attempts and committed six turnovers in 31 minutes. James came off the court with 3:54 remaining when the 76ers trailed by 19 points. He described the night as a struggle with rhythm, noting that the team had too many turnovers on his behalf.
Cavaliers fans gave James a warm reception when he was introduced as the last of the 76ers starters. However, boos followed him every time he touched the ball during the first half. The arena skipped a video tribute, a departure from recent years when the home crowd was shown clips of James scoring 25 straight points in the 2007 playoffs or winning the 2016 championship.
James spent 11 seasons with the Cavaliers over two stints. He left for the Miami Heat in 2010, returned in 2014, and joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. He signed with Philadelphia in the offseason rather than returning to Cleveland for a third run. James said the reception in December 2010 was the worst he had ever experienced, making any other welcome easier to handle.
Cleveland center Evan Mobley led the defense against James, who was 2 of 6 in the paint. Mobley finished with 22 points. Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 23 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Mitchell credited the team for packing the paint and forcing James to pass, which led to the turnovers.
James had missed his first two shots from beyond the arc before scoring on a driving layup with 6:37 left in the first quarter. His double-digit points streak in Cleveland ended at 396 games. His previous low of three points came against Houston on December 30, 2004. His NBA-record run of 1,297 consecutive games with at least 10 points ended last season in Toronto.
Philadelphia enters this loss with an 8-2 record, despite coming in with the NBA's best mark. Coach Nick Nurse said the team was lackluster and that the Cavaliers were very good. Nurse noted that the Sixers had two tough losses in a row before facing Cleveland. Philadelphia will return to Cleveland on March 1, with their next game scheduled for Sunday against Chicago.
