James Harden: james harden and Donovan Mitchell Thrill as Cavs Beat Knicks
james harden and Donovan Mitchell powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 109-94 victory over the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena on Tuesday night, and Harden said the team is "working to build something special. " The win featured balanced scoring, key runs, and a strong second-half push by Cleveland.
James Harden on 'something special'
After the game 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. " His comments followed a performance in which he finished with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, four assists and two rebounds.
Harden and Mitchell statistics
Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points with five rebounds and four assists while shooting 5-of-18 and picking up three steals. Fans and pundits were impressed with the duo as Cleveland leaned on their backcourt production in the win. The Cavaliers also had six players finish in double figures in what was described as a well-rounded victory.
Game flow and scoring runs
Cleveland opened Tuesday's contest on a 19-12 run and held a nine-point edge at the end of the first quarter. The Cavs pushed their lead to 12 points early in the second before New York answered with a 7-1 run. The Knicks later cut the deficit to one, but Cleveland responded with a quick 8-0 run to create separation.
Knicks struggles after halftime
The Cavaliers pulled away in the third quarter as the Knicks struggled mightily after halftime. New York scored just 11 points in the third, shooting 3-of-24 from the floor and 1-of-12 from behind the arc during the period. Cleveland held an 18-point lead heading into the fourth and maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the contest.
Knicks individual notes and records
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 20 points on 6-of-19 shooting, adding four assists and committing two turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, but he committed five turnovers. Following Tuesday's result, New York and Cleveland now own identical 37-22 records.
Roster context and outlook
The Cavaliers' recent form has drawn attention after a disappointing start to the 2025-26 season; over the past few weeks the team has been described as phenomenal and one of the best in the Eastern Conference. James Harden's arrival was noted as a factor, particularly as Cleveland had been struggling with Darius Garland's injuries earlier this year. Garland's inconsistency and injuries were cited as troubling, and the Cavaliers decided to cut their losses early and move on.
Evan Mobley was highlighted as an elite big man, with a Defensive Player of the Year award noted as evidence. Jarrett Allen was identified as one of the most reliable centers in the league, and it was noted that now that he is paired with Harden in the pick-and-roll, his offensive impact should improve. Teammate reactions mentioned that Jarrett Allen is excited about the Cavaliers' performance in the second half of the season, and LeBron James is keeping an eye on the Cavaliers.
Other context items included Donovan Mitchell doubling down on his love for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland, and Mitchell admitting the OKC Thunder are overly physical and that teams have to adapt. Discussion around playoff hype was present, with outside commentary urging some to "pump the brakes. "
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Tuesday's win underscored Cleveland's balance, Harden's public belief in the roster and the pairing of Harden and Mitchell as a driving force for the Cavaliers as they continue the 2025-26 season.
