Cleveland Cavaliers Edge Past New Orleans Pelicans in Close Matchup

Cavaliers win 115-110 in a hard-fought game at the Smoothie King Center

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:19am

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The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 115-110 in a close game at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday night. James Harden led the Cavaliers with 36 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists, while Evan Mobley added 26 points and 14 rebounds. For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III scored a team-high 27 points, and Saddiq Bey chipped in 20 points and 6 assists.

Why it matters

This game was an important matchup between two teams heading in different directions this season. The Cavaliers are fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference, while the Pelicans are looking to build momentum for next year. The close result shows the competitiveness of the game and the growth of the young Pelicans squad.

The details

The Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead, going up by as many as 29 points in the first half. However, the Pelicans fought back in the second half, cutting the deficit to just one point with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter. But the Cavaliers were able to hold on for the victory, thanks to strong performances from their star players.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM EDT.

The players

James Harden

A veteran guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who led the team with 36 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists in the win.

Evan Mobley

A young forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers who had 26 points and 14 rebounds in the game.

Trey Murphy III

A rising star for the New Orleans Pelicans who scored a team-high 27 points in the loss.

Saddiq Bey

A key player for the New Orleans Pelicans who contributed 20 points and 6 assists in the game.

Zion Williamson

The star forward for the New Orleans Pelicans who had 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We knew the Pelicans would make a run in the second half, but our guys stepped up and made the plays we needed to get the win.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers

“We fought hard until the end, but the Cavaliers made the winning plays down the stretch. We'll learn from this and come back stronger.”

— Willie Green, Head Coach, New Orleans Pelicans

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a high playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pelicans will aim to rebound in their next game as they try to finish the season strong and gain momentum for next year.

The takeaway

This close game between the Cavaliers and Pelicans showcased the competitiveness of the NBA and the growth of the young Pelicans squad. While the Cavaliers prevailed, the Pelicans proved they can hang with one of the top teams in the league, providing hope for their future.