Cavaliers Dominate Wizards in Harden's Home Debut

Cleveland cruises to 16.5-point victory over struggling Washington squad

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a decisive victory over the Washington Wizards, 132-99, in James Harden's home debut with the team. Harden, acquired at the trade deadline, scored 22 points and dished out 8 assists as the Cavaliers led wire-to-wire against the overmatched Wizards.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the stark contrast between the playoff-contending Cavaliers and the rebuilding Wizards, who have struggled mightily this season. Harden's integration into Cleveland's offense has been seamless, giving the team another dynamic scoring threat alongside Donovan Mitchell.

The details

The Cavaliers jumped out to a 35-22 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, extending their advantage to as many as 35 points in the second half. Harden scored 14 of his 22 points in the first half, while Mitchell led all scorers with 27 points. The Wizards, playing without key injured players like Anthony Davis and Trae Young, were paced by Alex Sarr's 17 points and 8 rebounds.

  • The Cavaliers and Wizards previously met twice earlier this season, with Cleveland winning both games.
  • This was James Harden's home debut with the Cavaliers after being acquired at the NBA trade deadline.

The players

James Harden

A 10-time NBA All-Star and former league MVP, Harden was traded to the Cavaliers at the deadline and is making his home debut with the team.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' leading scorer, averaging 29.0 points per game this season.

Alex Sarr

A bright spot for the struggling Wizards, Sarr is averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.

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What they’re saying

“We're starting to really gel as a team. Adding a player like James has taken us to another level, and I'm excited to see what we can do moving forward.”

— Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers Guard (Cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers and Wizards will meet one more time this season on April 12th to close out the regular season series.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' decisive victory over the Wizards showcased their depth and talent, especially with the addition of James Harden. While the Wizards continue to struggle, the Cavaliers have emerged as a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference playoff race.