LeBron James kept it tidy and effective in the NBA Preseason at Barclays Center. The Philadelphia 76ers forward logged around 18 minutes, scored 10 points and handed out 5 assists in a 114-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. It was a first-half-only appearance with a clear focus on control and efficiency. Fans tracking the box score on Sofascore would have spotted a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line and a +10 plus-minus while he was on the court.

First-half shift in Brooklyn

James played 1084 seconds and did all his work before halftime. He finished with 10 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 1 steal, with only 2 turnovers across the run. The forward wore No. 23 and served as a steadying playmaker early on. He added 1 of 1 from the field and did not attempt a three. His plus-minus ended at +10, a strong snapshot of on-court impact in limited minutes.

Philadelphia trailed 114-108 at the buzzer despite his positive stint. The game drew an attendance of 16,785 at Barclays Center. It was all preseason, yet the pace and intensity looked close to regular NBA action. The 76ers split the first quarter 33-33 and then fell behind by halftime. James did not feature in the third or fourth quarter, staying on the bench after the break.

Playmaking sets the tone

The first quarter belonged to James the facilitator. He dished 5 assists in the opening period, sparking early rhythm for the 76ers’ offense. His decision-making was sharp, with no turnovers in that stretch. He also grabbed 2 defensive rebounds to finish possessions. The period closed with a +4 while he was on the floor.

In the second quarter, the profile shifted slightly toward scoring. James added a steal and got to the line again, keeping the pressure up. Two turnovers showed some risk as he pushed the tempo, but the overall ledger remained solid. He still posted a +6 in the quarter, bringing his total to +10 at halftime. The assist-to-turnover ratio for the night landed at 2.5, a preseason number coaches usually take every time.

Scoring profile built at the stripe

James’ shot selection was minimal and clean. He went 1 of 1 on field goals and did not take a three. The bulk of his scoring came from the free throw line, where he was a perfect 8 of 8. That gave him 100 percent from the field and 100 percent from the stripe in the game. He also went 1 of 1 on two-pointers.

Quarter splits underline the approach. He scored 4 first-quarter points, all from free throws. He added 6 more in the second, with one made two-pointer and four free throws. No attempts came from deep, keeping the offense inside the arc and at the line. It was pragmatic preseason scoring that fit a short run.

Rebounding, defense and impact in defeat

All four of James’ rebounds were on the defensive glass. That helped the 76ers close possessions in his minutes. Add in one steal and a low foul count at one personal foul, and it was a calm defensive line. He recorded zero blocks, which matched the role he played in this one. The efficiency theme stayed consistent throughout his shift.

The Nets took the game 114-108, winning the third quarter 37-23 to pull away. The 76ers rallied late with 27 in the fourth, but it was not enough. Despite the team result, James’ +10 stands out, especially in a controlled first half. It points to a positive on-court run in an exhibition setting. The crowd of 16,785 saw a veteran preseason tune-up that did exactly what it needed to.

Where this leaves the 76ers and what to watch

Within NBA Preseason 2026 numbers, James’ 100 percent field goal percentage currently tops the leaderboard. Small-sample caveats apply, but the line is spotless. Free throws at 100 percent also speak to sharp early-season mechanics. The 5 assists rank well per game across the preseason cohort, reflecting that strong first quarter. Plus-minus of +10 slots him in the upper tier for impact so far.

For fans following the 76ers and LeBron’s game-to-game rhythm, Sofascore is a handy place to track live NBA scores, box score splits and player pages. You can check quarter-by-quarter breakdowns, see where points came from and compare season highlights. Expect his minutes to scale based on preseason plans, and the usage to adjust. For now, the numbers show control, efficiency and a clean first-half template. That is a useful starting point for a very long season.