Cavaliers: James Harden makes 1,000th start, continues to impress new team

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers point guard James Harden reached another milestone Wednesday against the Miami Heat. It was his 1,000th career start in the NBA. Harden became one of nine active players to reach the number. Cleveland entered Wednesday 14-4 with Harden in the lineup and was riding a four-game winning streak. In that stretch, he's averaging 27.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.50 steals in 35.8 minutes per game. He's also shooting .500 from the field, .531 from the 3-point line (17-for-32) and .839 from the foul line. "He's improved our efficiency," coach Kenny Atkinson said. "The stats have screamed that out. We're not playing as fast. We're playing more isolation. He's adapted to what we do. As a staff, we understand what his strengths are." Atkinson said he's amazed at Harden's passing ability. "I knew he was good," he said. "But I've been blown away. I didn't know about his passing ability." The 17-year veteran brought another voice to the locker room, one to which his teammates will listen. "It's not all on Don's shoulders," Atkinson said of seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell. "That carries weight. It's been a real help to the ballclub." Harden, 36, recorded 26 points, seven assists and one block in the 136-131 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday. Since arriving from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline Feb. 7, he's shooting .460 from long distance (58-for-126). Harden ranks fifth in the NBA this season in assists per game (8.0) and 16th in points per game (24.2). Flipping script Atkinson said forward/center Evan Mobley has "flipped his mindset." He's become more of a threat in the paint instead of at the 3-point line. It has resulted in some of the best basketball in his career. In his previous 12 games since Feb. 27, Mobley is averaging 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.91 blocks and shooting .629 from the field (ninth-best in the NBA over that span). The 7-foot, 230-pounder ranks fourth in the NBA and second in the Eastern Conference this season in blocks per game (1.86). He is the first Cavs player to average at least 1.80 blocks per game in a season since Zydrunas Ilgauskas in 2004-05 (2.12). He contributed 19 points on 8-for-8 shooting from the field with a game-high nine rebounds, six assists and one block vs. the Magic. It was the most field goals made without a miss in a game in his career. Atkinson has noticed Mobley is starting to speak up. "That's not natural for Evan," he said. "There's more in there in that aspect." The coach said Mobley "yelled" at Mitchell for not boxing out on a play in the Orlando game. "When Evan speaks, he knows what he's talking about," Atkinson said. "He's spot on." Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.