Cavaliers Vs Nets: James Harden Returns with Broken Thumb as Cleveland Edges Brooklyn 106-102
NEW YORK — James Harden scored 22 points in his return to the lineup with a broken thumb as the Cavaliers snapped a two-game skid with a 106-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday in a cavaliers vs nets matchup that featured a second-half rally and tense final seconds.
Harden's return and injury context
Harden had missed two games after fracturing his thumb earlier in the week. He shot 5 for 9 from the field, 4 for 7 from 3-point distance and 8 for 12 from the free throw line while adding nine rebounds and eight assists in the comeback. He was injured Tuesday night in a 109-94 home victory over New York; X-rays taken Wednesday showed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx. The 17-year veteran had been traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to Cleveland on Feb. 4.
cavaliers vs nets: Second-half rally and late drama
Brooklyn led 56-42 at halftime, helped by 50% (21 for 42) shooting from the field, but Cleveland rallied in the second half to turn the game. The Cavaliers held an eight-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before Brooklyn mounted a late push. Nolan Traore cut the gap to three points with a basket with 28. 6 seconds left, and Danny Wolf trimmed it to a one-point game at 102-101 with two free throws and 9. 2 seconds remaining.
Final sequence that decided the game
Dennis Schroder steadied Cleveland with a pair of free throws, and Wolf made 1 of 2 from the line, leaving the Cavaliers with a two-point advantage with 5. 9 seconds left. Schroder and Evan Mobley added free throws in the final seconds to seal the 106-102 result for Cleveland.
Stat lines and team trends
- Jarrett Allen scored 20 points for Cleveland; Evan Mobley finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
- Sam Merrill contributed 15 points and Dennis Schroder had 10 for the Cavaliers, who improved to 12-1 in their last 13 games against the Nets.
- For Brooklyn, Michael Porter Jr. scored 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting, and Danny Wolf added 23 points and nine rebounds.
- Nolan Traore had 17 points and Grant Nelson 11 for the Nets, who slipped to 15-45 overall.
Brooklyn's slide and Cleveland's absences
Brooklyn lost its eighth straight game and has now dropped 11 of its last 13 games. Cleveland continues to navigate injuries: Donovan Mitchell was sidelined for a third straight game with a groin injury, and Dean Wade did not play because of a sprained ankle. Those absences made Harden's return more consequential for the Cavaliers' rotation and late-game execution.
What comes next
The Cavaliers will host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. Details about lineups and availability for that game were unclear in the provided context. The result in New York extended Brooklyn's difficult stretch while giving Cleveland a momentum-boosting finish after snapping a two-game skid.
