James Harden: Cavaliers building ‘something special’ after 109-94 win
On Feb. 25, 2026, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks 109-94 in Cleveland, and james harden said the victory was part of work toward something bigger. The win highlighted a second-half pullaway and left both clubs with important standing implications in the Eastern Conference.
James Harden on 'something special' after the 109-94 win
James 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. ” Harden scored 20 points in the Cleveland victory over the Knicks on Tuesday, and the Cavs featured six players in double figures in what coverage described as a well-rounded performance.
Mitchell and Allen drive Cleveland’s second-half surge
Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and Jarrett Allen finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds as Cleveland pulled away in the second half. The Cavs held a 60-54 halftime edge, then outscored New York 23-11 in the third quarter. In that period Harden had eight points and Allen scored six as Cleveland closed the quarter on a decisive run.
Knicks' shooting collapse and individual lines
New York shot 35 of 86 for the game and the pair of Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges combined to go 12 of 36, with Brunson scoring 20 and Bridges 18. The Knicks were 10 of 37 from deep, a 27% mark, and were held to 3 of 24 from the field in the third quarter. Mitchell Robinson pulled down 15 rebounds, one off a season high, as New York endured its worst shooting quarter since a 3 of 20 fourth quarter in 2018 against Boston.
Standings, tiebreakers and the season series
Both Cleveland and New York sit at 37-22, 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. The Cleveland matchup on Tuesday was the final meeting between these teams this season; one preview noted the Cavs would look to pick up their first win against the Knicks this season, which is unclear in the provided context given the head-to-head detail.
How the Cavs reached this point: injuries, moves and roster makeup
The Cavaliers staged a turnaround after a disappointing start to the 2025-26 season and have become one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, fulfilling preseason expectations. James Harden’s arrival played a role as Cleveland had been dealing with Darius Garland’s injuries earlier in the year. Donovan Mitchell is identified as a legitimate superstar who can carry a team in the playoffs; Evan Mobley is noted as an elite big man, evidenced by his Defensive Player of the Year award; and Jarrett Allen is described as one of the most reliable centers in the league whose offensive impact should improve paired with Harden in the pick-and-roll. The team chose to move on from Garland after attempting to win with him.
Momentum, streaks and what’s next for Cleveland
Cleveland’s victory marked the eighth win in nine games for the Cavaliers, and they pushed their largest lead to 98-78 midway through the fourth quarter. The Cavs were up 71-63 before a 13-2 run over roughly a five-minute span late in the third and early in the fourth. The club last held an opponent to three or fewer field goals in a game last season against Minnesota (2 of 20). Coverage around the game noted the Cavs were looking for a fourth straight win and that Cavs fans are falling in love with the beard; gamethread commentary said the host would be in the comments throughout the game sharing thoughts. Cleveland will be at Milwaukee on Wednesday to start a three-game road trip.
Related coverage and conversation around the team
Wider conversation this week included a piece urging readers to "pump the brakes" on playoff hype, Donovan Mitchell doubling down on his love for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell discussing physical play from the OKC Thunder, Jarrett Allen expressing excitement about Cleveland’s second-half performance, and notes that LeBron James is keeping an eye on the Cavaliers. Coverage also emphasized that Cleveland entered the game with the fourth-worst defense in the league on 3-pointers, a contrast with the night’s result.
