James Harden: james harden and Donovan Mitchell lift Cavaliers to 109-94 win over Knicks (25 Feb, 2026)
james harden scored 20 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks 109-94 in Cleveland on 25 Feb, 2026. Donovan Mitchell added 23 points and Jarrett Allen finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a victory that was Cleveland's eighth in nine games.
James Harden and Donovan Mitchell
Harden finished with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, dishing out four assists and grabbing two rebounds. Mitchell scored 23 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists, shooting 5-of-18 from the field and recording three steals. Fans and pundits were impressed with the duo as they spearheaded the Cavs' second-half pullaway.
Third-quarter blowout
Cleveland held a 60-54 lead at halftime before taking control in the third quarter. The Cavaliers outscored New York 23-11 in the period, holding the Knicks to 3-of-24 from the field. Harden had eight points in the quarter and Allen scored six. New York's 11-point third was its worst shooting quarter since a 3-of-20 fourth quarter in a 2018 game against Boston.
Shooting and turnovers
New York shot 35-of-86 overall, with Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson combining to go 12-of-36. The Knicks were 10-of-37 from 3-point range, a 27% clip, and went 1-of-12 from behind the arc in the third quarter. For New York, Brunson had 20 points on 6-of-19 shooting, with four assists and two turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14, grabbed seven rebounds and was 5-of-5 from the field while committing five turnovers. Mitchell Robinson pulled down 15 rebounds, one off a season high.
Early runs and decisive stretches
Cleveland opened the contest on a 19-12 run and held a nine-point edge at the end of the first quarter. The Cavaliers pushed their lead to 12 early in the second before New York responded with a 7-1 run. New York later cut the deficit to one point, but Cleveland answered with an 8-0 run. The Cavaliers were up 71-63 before going on a 13-2 run during a five-minute span late in the third and early in the fourth. Cleveland's largest lead was 98-78 midway through the fourth quarter, and the team held an 18-point lead heading into the fourth.
Team context and roster notes
The Cavaliers have been described as phenomenal over the past few weeks after a disappointing start to the 2025-26 season, and they are now one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. James Harden's arrival has been cited as a factor while the team struggled with Darius Garland's injuries earlier this year. Donovan Mitchell is noted as a legitimate superstar who can carry a team in the Playoffs. Evan Mobley is described as an elite big man, with a Defensive Player of the Year award to his name. Jarrett Allen is called one of the most reliable centers in the league, and pairing him with Harden in the pick-and-roll is expected to improve Allen's offensive impact. Cleveland had six players in double figures in this game.
Standings, reactions and next steps
The Cavaliers and Knicks each own 37-22 records and are tied for third place in the Eastern Conference. New York would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker if the teams finish tied at the end of the season after taking two of three meetings. After the win over the Knicks, Harden said, "We’re working to build something special. Every game is an opportunity to get better. Tonight was a team effort, and it’s been like that since I got here. It’s one of the beauties of this team. " Other reactions and notes include Donovan Mitchell doubling down on his love for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland; Donovan Mitchell noting the OKC Thunder are overly physical and teams must adapt; a headline urging people to "pump the brakes" on Cavs playoff hype from an insider perspective; Jarrett Allen expressing excitement about the Cavaliers' second-half performance; and LeBron James keeping an eye on the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers travel to Milwaukee on Wednesday to start a three-game road trip.
