LeBron James scored 22 points and added five assists as the Philadelphia 76ers secured a 127-121 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, improving their record to 9-2 this season.
James delivered his best performance since joining the 76ers in the summer, bouncing back from a modest eight-point outing in Friday’s loss to Cleveland. Jaylen Brown led the scoring with 29 points, while Tyrese Maxey contributed 27. Joel Embiid grabbed 10 rebounds to help Philadelphia maintain control after taking the lead early in the second quarter.
The 76ers never trailed after establishing that lead, although the Bulls mounted a late surge and closed the gap to two points in the final moments. James said the team’s experience in late-game situations helped them stay composed. “We have a lot of guys that’s been in situations, late-game situations, and we have a ‘no panic’ button,” he said. “We understand that we got to get stops on this end, but if teams make a run, we understand how to be calm on the other end as well.”
Chicago’s struggles continued as they dropped their seventh straight NBA game and remain tied for last place in the Eastern Conference alongside the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls were without shooting guard Norman Powell, their second-leading scorer, due to back discomfort reported just hours before tip-off. Despite the absence, Josh Giddey provided some hope with a double-double, scoring 19 points and dishing out 15 assists.
Elsewhere on Sunday, James’ former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, won 121-116 against the Detroit Pistons without their star Luka Doncic. Doncic, who has been averaging over 40 points per game this season, did not play due to lower back tightness. Austin Reaves stepped up for the Lakers with 43 points, including two decisive free throws in the final seconds to secure the win. The Lakers led throughout but had to hold off a late Pistons rally led by Daniss Jenkins, who scored 31 points off the bench. Kevin Huerter added 24 points for Detroit.
The Charlotte Hornets announced injury setbacks on Sunday, with forward Kon Knueppel expected to miss at least four weeks due to a left hamstring strain. Guard Dennis Schroder is also sidelined for a minimum of two weeks with a similar injury.
Philadelphia’s 9-2 start marks their best after 11 games since the 2000 season. The team’s depth and ability to manage pressure in tight games continue to show in their performance across the opening weeks of the campaign. The Bulls, meanwhile, must find answers as they try to end their losing streak without Powell in the lineup.
According to Yahoo Sports.
