Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, holding LeBron James to a season-low eight points, as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 119-95 in an NBA Cup group stage game Friday night. James, in his first game back in Cleveland since signing with the 76ers in the offseason, shot 3 of 12 from the field and 0 of 4 on three-pointers in 31 minutes.
"I know I damn sure wasn't good at all," James told ESPN.com after the game. The Akron, Ohio, native also noted that the reception from Cavaliers fans, which included scattered boos when he touched the ball, was not as hostile as his return to Cleveland in 2010 after leaving for the Miami Heat. "At the end of the day, nothing can get worse than Dec. 2, 2010, from a reception standpoint," James said. "So, I’ve seen the depths of hell when it comes to reception here, all the way to the heavens above. So, anything in between is easy money."
The eight points marked the 10th time in James' 24-year career he has scored in single digits. His NBA-record streak of 1,297 consecutive regular-season games with at least 10 points ended last season.
"Yeah, I definitely did not feel in a good rhythm offensively," James admitted. "We didn’t look like much offensively. … Too many turnovers on my behalf, and I didn’t feel in a rhythm."
Evan Mobley added 22 points for the Cavaliers, who had lost two consecutive games prior to Friday's matchup. Mitchell also contributed seven rebounds and eight assists. For the 76ers, James Harden scored 17 points, but the team struggled offensively, shooting 36.5% from the field and 10 of 40 from three-point range.
The 76ers, who are 8-2 on the season, had previously beaten the Cavaliers earlier in the year. In that game, LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, acquired by the 76ers in a trade, blended well with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe. On Friday, Brown led Philadelphia with 20 points, Edgecombe scored 19, and Maxey had 17. Embiid missed all nine of his field-goal attempts but made six of six free throws.