Sixers come up short in 112-108 loss to LeBron and the Lakers in South Philly

The Sixers and Lakers went punch for punch on Sunday night, but when the dust settled, it was LeBron and Luka walking out of Xfinity Mobile Arena with a 112-108 win.

The loss drops the Sixers to 13-10 on the season. Los Angeles moves to 17-6 and once again, the Sixers are left replaying a winnable game that slipped away in the final minutes.

Tyrese Maxey showed up ready for primetime, dropping 28 points with nine assists and seven boards. Luka Doncic bullied his way into a 31 point, 15 rebound, 11 assist triple-double. LeBron James turned back the clock with 29 points on 12 for 17 shooting.

An early shootout between Maxey and Luka

The night started fast. Doncic hit the first bucket, Maxey immediately fired back with a three, and the pace never slowed down. Maxey made his first four shots and jumped to 10 points in minutes. Paul George got downhill in transition. Dominick Barlow knocked down free throws. Philly built a quick 19 to 9 lead and looked dialed in.

5⃣ quick points for @TyreseMaxey. pic.twitter.com/YlpPFapdCR

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 8, 2025

Then the Lakers reminded everyone that they are still the Lakers. LeBron detonated on a dunk that woke up the visiting fans. The Sixers cooled off, Rui Hachimura knocked down a corner three, and the game was tied at 30 after one.

Joel Embiid had one of those nights you just toss in the garbage

No way around it. Embiid could not buy a basket. He finished 4 for 21 from the floor with 16 points and seven rebounds, and nothing he tried seemed like it wanted to go in.

A lot of the misses were shots he hits in his sleep. Mid-range jumpers, face-up pull-ups, free throw line looks. All short. All flat. At times he stared up at the ceiling like he was negotiating with the basketball gods.

After the game, Embiid chalked it up to rhythm and repetition.

The Sixers’ bench actually won them minutes

While Embiid was fighting the rim, the Sixers’ bench came in and immediately changed the tone. Jabari Walker stayed scorching hot from the Bucks game, splashing a three on his first touch. Jared McCain hit two triples and a strong driving layup. At halftime, the bench had an 18 to 2 scoring advantage.

jojo to jmac 🪙 pic.twitter.com/IOMDrrOGth

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 8, 2025

But Los Angeles punched back hard to open the third. LeBron hit three jumpers in a row. Deandre Ayton finished an alley-oop. The Lakers grabbed a 68-67 lead and eventually stretched it to double digits late in the third.

Still, Maxey wasn’t letting go. He and VJ Edgecombe buried threes to pull the Sixers within 87 to 84 entering the fourth.

Crunch time belonged to LeBron James

The Sixers blitzed Luka late and actually bothered him. He threw a pass out of bounds. Embiid hit a jumper to tie the game at 105.

The crowd came alive. It felt like a turning point.

Then LeBron calmly stepped in and ripped out the Sixers’ heart with two straight daggers. First a contested three. Then a fading mid-range jumper. Vintage, annoying, inevitable LeBron.

LEBRON JAMES SHOWS OUT IN CRUNCH TIME!

👑 29 PTS
👑 7 REB
👑 6 AST
👑 4 3PM
👑 10 straight points in final 5 minutes

Lakers get the road W! pic.twitter.com/iBHRLRr0Y8

— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2025

The Sixers unraveled on a few defensive possessions, struggling to communicate through screens and giving the Lakers just enough daylight to close the game out.

Maxey hit a miracle three with seven seconds left, but it was too late. Doncic iced it at the line, and the Sixers walked off the floor frustrated for the second time this weekend.

Up Next for the Sixers:

The Sixers get a few days to breathe before hosting the Pacers on Friday night. The effort was good. The fight was there. The shot-making was not.

If Embiid even has a normal shooting night, this game has a different ending. But the Lakers stars executed, the Sixers didn’t, and that’s the difference between a win and a loss against a team like this.

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