James Harden trade reshapes Cavaliers and Clippers after Cavs rout in first meeting

A blockbuster deal sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers set the tone for a hectic stretch around the NBA trade deadline. The teams met almost immediately, and Cleveland’s 124–91 win in Inglewood on Wednesday night (Feb. 4, 2026) doubled as a reminder that the on-court transition may take time: neither Harden nor Garland suited up in the first game after the swap.

Cavaliers vs Clippers: the first game after the deal

The Cavaliers controlled the matchup early and never let go, building a big first-quarter lead and cruising to a 33-point final margin. Donovan Mitchell powered the offense with 29 points and nine assists, while Cleveland’s defense forced turnovers and turned them into easy scoring chances.

For the Clippers, the night highlighted the void created by Harden’s departure and the reality that Garland is not yet available. Los Angeles struggled to generate clean perimeter looks and fell behind quickly, putting extra strain on its half-court offense.

Harden trade details and why it happened

The trade structure was clean: Cleveland acquired Harden; Los Angeles acquired Garland; Cleveland also sent a second-round pick to the Clippers. For the Cavaliers, the move signals urgency—adding an established creator and postseason-tested scorer to a roster built to win now.

For the Clippers, the deal looks like a pivot toward a younger lead guard with years ahead of him, while also reshaping the team’s cap and roster timeline. Garland (26) gives Los Angeles a long-term ballhandler to build around, even if the short-term impact depends on health.

Is James Harden playing tonight? What’s known in ET

As of Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, the Cavaliers are not scheduled to play, so Harden’s debut timing remains unclear. Cleveland’s next game is Saturday, Feb. 7 at Sacramento, with a 10:00 p.m. ET tip. The Clippers play at Sacramento on Friday, Feb. 6, also at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Harden’s immediate availability for Saturday is not publicly confirmed here, but the fact he did not play Wednesday suggests the team is managing logistics and timing before putting him in the rotation.

Darius Garland injury status and what it means for the Clippers

Garland’s situation is more straightforward medically: he’s dealing with a right toe sprain and is expected to be re-evaluated in roughly 7–10 days. That timetable makes his early Clippers tenure a ramp-up rather than an instant takeover, and it raises a practical question for Los Angeles: who handles primary creation until Garland is cleared?

The Clippers can survive short stretches by committee, but the Western Conference standings punish inconsistency. The next week’s results may hinge on defense and turnovers while the new lead guard remains sidelined.

Harden contract and fit with Donovan Mitchell

Harden signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract last summer that includes a player option for 2026–27. That structure matters: it gives Cleveland a high-upside win-now piece without a decade-long commitment, but it also creates urgency to make the fit work quickly.

On the court, the Cavaliers’ most important question is role clarity. Mitchell is already an elite on-ball scorer; Harden can share that burden or amplify it. The simplest path is a two-creator attack—one initiates while the other stresses the defense off the catch—paired with tempo control in fourth quarters, where Harden’s pick-and-roll patience has historically translated.

Snapshot: where things stand (ET)

Sources consulted: NBA.com, Reuters, ESPN, Basketball-Reference