James Harden’s Return Lifts Cavaliers Vs Nets in 106-102 Win; Brooklyn’s Losing Streak Reaches Eight
James Harden returned from a fractured right thumb and scored 22 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 106-102 in New York, a result that snapped Cleveland's two-game skid and extended Brooklyn's losing streak to eight. The matchup mattered because Harden’s presence, even while still recovering, changed the complexion of a second-half rally and closed out a tense final minute.
Cavaliers Vs Nets: Harden’s 22 points fuel second-half rally
Harden, 36 and an 11-time All-Star, produced 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the victory. He shot 4-for-7 from 3-point range, went 5-for-9 from the field and 8-for-12 from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-5 guard missed two games after fracturing his right thumb during a 109-94 win over the New York Knicks earlier in the week; X-rays showed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx.
Harden had eight points in the first half while Brooklyn led at the break — halftime margins listed in the available accounts are 52-46 and 56-42. Cleveland mounted a comeback in the second half, with Harden making two foul shots and converting a four-point play that helped the Cavaliers grab a 70-64 lead with 4: 40 left in the third quarter. The Cavs led by eight with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth but the Nets staged a late push.
Kenny Atkinson on Harden’s return and in-game impact
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged Harden was not at full strength early but emphasized his influence later in the game: "You could see in the first half he's not 100%, obviously, " Atkinson said. He added that Harden took over in the second half, getting to the free-throw line and hitting key 3s. "We needed him tonight, " Atkinson said, noting Harden played well despite being "handicapped. "
Key Cavaliers contributions, injuries and roster notes
Jarrett Allen scored 20 points and Evan Mobley finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Sam Merrill added 15 points and Dennis Schroder scored 10. Cleveland’s rotation was missing Donovan Mitchell, who was sidelined for a third straight game with a groin injury, and Dean Wade, who did not play because of a sprained ankle. Harden has appeared in eight games with Cleveland and is averaging 19. 3 points, 8. 0 assists and 5. 1 rebounds in that span.
Brooklyn Nets: shooting, leaders and the late surge
Brooklyn got 26 points from Michael Porter Jr. on 10-for-17 shooting and 23 points and nine rebounds from Danny Wolf. Nolan Traore added 17 and Grant Nelson had 11 as the Nets fell for the eighth straight time and 11th in 13 games, slipping to 15-45 overall. The Nets shot 50 percent from the field in the first half in the account that listed a 56-42 halftime edge and were leading 52-46 in the other account.
The Nets closed strongly late. Traore’s basket with 28. 6 seconds left cut Cleveland’s lead to 102-99. Wolf’s two free throws with 9. 2 seconds remaining made it 102-101. Schroder then made a pair of free throws and Wolf missed one of two, giving the Cavs a two-point advantage with 5. 9 seconds on the clock. Schroder and Mobley added free throws in the final seconds to seal the 106-102 result.
Transactions, streaks and what comes next
Harden was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in early February; available information lists both Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 as trade dates, leaving the exact day unclear in the provided context. The victory improved Cleveland’s recent dominance over Brooklyn — the Cavaliers are 12-1 in their last 13 games against the Nets — and snapped a two-game skid for Cleveland. The Nets’ skid climbed to eight, and their overall slide continued.
Cleveland is scheduled to host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
What makes this notable is Harden’s ability to resume a leading role immediately after a non-displaced fracture, altering a close contest and allowing Cleveland to rally despite missing starters to injury. The timing matters because the Cavs converted the late sequence into free throws and plays that preserved the win and extended Brooklyn’s struggles.
