Harden Leads Cavaliers to Thrilling Win Over Kings

James Harden's playmaking and scoring in the fourth quarter propelled the Cavaliers to victory in his debut with the team.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a strong shooting performance from the Sacramento Kings to win a close game, 112-108. James Harden, in his first game with the Cavaliers, combined with Donovan Mitchell to score 32 points in the fourth quarter, rallying the team to victory. Harden's passing and playmaking in the pick-and-roll, particularly finding Jarrett Allen for easy baskets, was a key factor in the win.

Why it matters

The addition of James Harden gives the Cavaliers a new offensive dimension and pairing him with Donovan Mitchell creates a formidable scoring duo. The team's ability to win a close game on the road against a tough opponent shows their potential as they look to return to the playoffs.

The details

The Kings shot the ball exceptionally well in the first three quarters, led by Russell Westbrook and Nique Clifford combining for 9-13 from three-point range. However, the Cavaliers' defense tightened up in the fourth quarter, allowing Harden and Mitchell to take over. Harden consistently found his teammates, especially Jarrett Allen, in the pick-and-roll, leading to easy baskets. Allen finished the game a perfect 11-11 from the field, scoring 29 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

  • The Cavaliers took over the game in the fourth quarter on February 8, 2026.

The players

James Harden

A 10-time NBA All-Star and one of the league's premier playmakers, Harden was recently traded to the Cavaliers and made his debut with the team in this game.

Donovan Mitchell

An All-NBA guard and the Cavaliers' leading scorer, Mitchell teamed up with Harden to lead the team's fourth-quarter comeback.

Jarrett Allen

The Cavaliers' starting center, Allen had a dominant performance, scoring 29 points on 11-11 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“This wasn't seamless. Mitchell and Harden took turns dicing up the Kings in a game where they might have led earlier if they had more synergy between each other. But hey, it's their first game together. It took both Mitchell and Harden a few quarters to find each other's groove. But with one prolific quarter, we saw how special this duo can be.”

— Tony Pesta, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to build on this win as they continue their road trip, facing the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10th.

The takeaway

The addition of James Harden has given the Cavaliers a new offensive dimension, and the combination of his playmaking and Donovan Mitchell's scoring ability could make them a formidable team in the Eastern Conference playoff race.