Sixers home opener: LeBron James, Jaylen Brown take floor for first time in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia is ready to welcome LeBron James and Jaylen Brown home for the first time on Thursday night. The Sixers will host LeBron's former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7 p.m.
The Sixers' home opener comes two days after the team spoiled ring night at Madison Square Garden, where the defending NBA champion New York Knicks celebrated their first title in over 50 years.
When is the Sixers home opener?
What we know:
The Sixers will tip-off against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7 p.m.
The game will be carried nationally on ESPN.
SEPTA offering free rides home
What you can do:
SEPTA has partnered with Fulton Bank to offer free rides on the Broad Street Line for fans heading home from the game.
The free rides will begin at 8 p.m. and run until midnight, shuttling fans from NRG Station to stops along the Broad Street Line.
SEPTA will provide Sports Express trips before the game starting at 7 p.m., and regularly scheduled trains will run every eight minutes.
Sixers fans can connect with the Broad Street Line from dozens of bus routes, according to SEPTA. There is a free transfer from the Market-Frankford Line and the City Trolley routes at 15th Street/City Hall.
The Broad Street Line is also a short walk from Regional Rail stations in Center City, and is accessible from the PATCO for fans coming from South Jersey.
Sixers win season opener
The backstory:
The Philadelphia 76ers grabbed a 106-100 victory over the defending NBA champion New York Knicks on Tuesday night, thanks to new additions LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 28 points.
Sixers fans react to season opening win against Knicks
FOX 29 reporters caught up with Philadelphia 76ers fans to check their temperatures after the Sixers beat the Knicks 106-100 in the season opener at Madison Square Garden Tuesday night.
James finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists, starting his NBA-record 24th season. Brown, in his first game with the 76ers after coming over from Boston, contributed 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Simons made three 3-pointers and Caldwell-Pope had two, giving the Knicks trouble as they keyed in on the team's stars.
Brown had a strong debut for the 76ers. Maxey led all scorers, and both Simons and Caldwell-Pope capitalized on defensive lapses.
Matt Cord returns as PA announcer
Local perspective:
Sixers' longtime public address announcer Matt Cord will return behind the mic at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Thursday.
Cord announced his retirement at the end of last season, but was lured back for another year when the Sixers added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.
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Matt Cord returning as Philadelphia 76ers public address announcer
Six months after announcing his retirement, longtime Sixers public address announcer Matt Cord says he will return for at least one more season behind the mic at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
"When I retired, I wanted to retire, I wanted to have more time for myself," Cord said. "Then [the Sixers] made a trade for Jaylen Brown on July 1 and my phone started blowing up a little, and then on July 24 LeBron James signed with the Sixers and my phone just blew up like crazy."
The Sixers never found a replacement for Cord during his six-month retirement. He will play a role in finding the next voice of the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Source: Information provided by the Philadelphia 76ers and previous FOX 29 News reports.