Cavaliers: James Harden's addition is paying off thus far

The Cavaliers knew they had to do something to salvage the season. Their follow-up to their 64-win season in 2024-25 was teetering on the brink of disaster. They were 31-21 after beating the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 4, but the front office realized it didn't have the necessary ingredients to make a serious run at the NBA Finals. Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman and his staff were extremely aggressive at the trade deadline and made three deals. The most important came when they acquired future Hall of Fame point guard James Harden from the Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. The 36-year-old star has made an immediate impact on the team. The numbers have been very good — 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists since coming to the team — but his addition has given the Cavs renewed hope. They are 7-1 with Harden in the lineup, even though they lost the two games he missed with a broken right thumb. He's shooting .500 from the 3-point arc (24-of-48) since coming to Cleveland, which is tied for fourth in the league since the Feb. 7 deal. Harden also ranks fourth in the NBA this season in assists per game (8.1) and has dished out eight or more assists in six of his eight games with the Cavs. He returned to the lineup Sunday in Cleveland's 106-102 victory over the Brooklyn Nets and flirted with a triple-double. Harden finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes. He also drained 4-of-7 from the 3-point line. The 11-time All-Star had his thumb wrapped in the Nets game and isn't 100 percent, which might explain his five turnovers. But just being on the court makes the Cavs (38-24) better. The same can be said of first-team All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell, who has missed the last three games with a groin pull. It might make some sense to hold him out of tonight's showdown with the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, (45-14), who have the best record in the NBA. Mitchell would then have four days off before Cleveland's next game Sunday against Boston. Then again, he might want to face Detroit, which outlasted the Cavs on Friday at Little Caesars Arena, 122-119, in overtime. It was a game Cleveland thought it should have won. The Cavs had a 114-111 lead with four seconds remaining when swingman Jaylon Tyson fouled Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins at halfcourt. He was instructed by his coaches to foul, but they wanted him to do it before the Detroit player could get off a shot. The theory was good, the execution was abysmal. Jenkins made all three free throws, which sent the game into overtime where the Cavs fell short. With six seconds left in regulation, power forward Evan Mobley split two free throws that could have wrapped up the game, which gave Cleveland a three-point edge. Had he made both shots, the Pistons would have been behind by four points. The Pistons have won two of the three matchups against the Cavs this season. Cleveland, though, is 14-4 in its last 18 games and holds a 21-8 record (.724) since Dec. 29, tied for second best in the league over that span. The Cavs made two other deals at the deadline, including sending underperforming forward De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for guards Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, who have both become mainstays in Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson's rotation. Cleveland also traded guard Lonzo Ball to the Utah Jazz, who waived him. The Cavs are 11-3 in their last 14 home games since Dec. 22, including winning six in a row at Rocket Arena. A win over Detroit would mark the Cavs' longest home winning streak since winning 10 consecutive games from Dec. 1, 2024, to Jan. 9, 2025. During this current home win streak, Cleveland is outscoring its opponents 120.8-101.0, including holding its foes under 100 points in four of the last six games. The Cavs have won five consecutive home games by at least 15 points for the first time since winning six in a row by 15 or more points from Nov. 26-Dec. 12, 2008, according to Elias Sports. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.