James Harden, Donovan Mitchell Spark Cavs to 109-94 Win over Knicks

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 25, 2026 11:46 AM ET

James Harden, Donovan Mitchell Spark Cavs to 109-94 Win over Knicks

james harden and Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena on Tuesday night, a win Harden said underscored that "we’re working to build something special. " The performance arrived after a stretch of strong play for the Cavaliers following a disappointing start to the 2025-26 season.

James Harden and Donovan Mitchell lift Cavs

Harden finished the game with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, four assists and two rebounds. Mitchell added 23 points, five rebounds and four assists while picking up three steals and shooting 5-of-18 from the field.

The Cavaliers opened the game on a 19-12 run and held a nine-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Cleveland pushed the margin to 12 points early in the second before the Knicks mounted a 7-1 run. New York later cut the deficit to one, but Cleveland answered with an 8-0 run and never looked back.

Cavaliers pull away in third quarter at Rocket Arena

The third quarter proved decisive: New York managed just 11 points in the period, shooting 3-of-24 from the floor and 1-of-12 from behind the arc. Cleveland carried an 18-point lead into the fourth quarter and maintained a double-digit edge for the remainder of the game en route to the 109-94 final.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 20 points on 6-of-19 shooting, handing out four assists and committing two turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 14 points and seven rebounds while converting all five of his shot attempts, but he committed five turnovers.

Following Tuesday’s result, New York and Cleveland now share identical 37-22 records.

Roster notes, recent form and Harden’s outlook

The Cavaliers have been described as "phenomenal" over the past few weeks after a disappointing start to the 2025-26 season. James Harden’s arrival has been credited with helping the team recover, particularly after struggles tied to Darius Garland’s injuries earlier this year. The Cavs got a balanced effort against the Knicks, getting six players into double figures in the win.

Cleveland’s core group was highlighted in recent coverage: Donovan Mitchell is called a legitimate superstar who can carry a team in the playoffs; Evan Mobley is described as an elite big man and was noted for winning the Defensive Player of the Year award; Jarrett Allen was identified as one of the league’s most reliable centers, and observers said pairing Allen with Harden in the pick-and-roll should boost Allen’s offensive impact.

Commentary around the team included takes that Donovan Mitchell has doubled down on his affection for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland, that Mitchell has described the OKC Thunder as overly physical, that an insider urged some to "pump the brakes" on Cavs playoff hype, that Jarrett Allen expressed excitement about the team’s recent play, and that LeBron James has been keeping an eye on Cleveland.

On the game-night sideline, Harden offered a team-first assessment after the victory: "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. "