LeBron James Takes Blame After 24-Point Loss In Cleveland

The Philadelphia 76ers had won five games in a row, but that run ended in Cleveland, where they lost by 24 points. It was a rough night for LeBron James, who scored only 8. For years he had reached double figures every time he played in Cleveland during the regular season, 396 games in a row, and that streak is over now. When reporters found him in the locker room afterward, he didn't make excuses and said the loss was on him.

“I Know I Damn Sure Wasn't Good At All”

“I definitely did not feel a good rhythm offensively,” James said. “We didn't look like much offensively. We had a couple spurts. We were able to cut it, I think, to three in the third quarter, but too many turnovers on my part. I didn't feel any rhythm offensively.” A video from the locker room also got shared a lot, and in it he made clear he didn't think the problem was only him: “I don't think offensively as a group (we were sharp) and I know I damn sure wasn't good at all.”

The Cavaliers won 119-95. Donovan Mitchell led them with 23 points, and Evan Mobley had 22. Jaylen Brown scored 20 for the 76ers, but he didn't get much help from anyone else. Philadelphia started slowly and looked better in the second quarter, but Cleveland pulled away again in the third, and the 76ers never found a way back in. Their next chance to bounce back comes against the Chicago Bulls.

Cleveland Fans Still Showed James Some Love

James could have gone back to the Cavaliers in free agency, but he signed with the 76ers instead, so it wasn't clear how Cleveland fans would treat him. When the starters were introduced, the crowd booed Tyrese Maxey and the other 76ers players. Then James's name was called, and the booing stopped and the cheering began. He laughed it off afterward. “At the end of the day, nothing can get as worse as December 2nd, 2010 from a reception standpoint. So I've seen the near depths of hell when it comes to reception here all the way to the heavens above. So anything in between is easy money.”

He was talking about the first time he came back to Cleveland after leaving to join the Miami Heat. That night, the fans booed and shouted at him from start to finish. Compared to that, it's no surprise he took this welcome in stride.