Cavaliers Rally Past Pelicans 111-106

Mitchell and Harden lead Cleveland to comeback win in New Orleans

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:52am

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The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a slow start to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-106 on Saturday night. Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 27 points, while James Harden added 20 second-half points to fuel the Cavaliers' comeback.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Cavaliers, who are jockeying for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are trying to solidify their standing in the Western Conference playoff race.

The details

Mitchell and Harden led the way for the Cavaliers, who trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half before rallying in the second half. Harden was held scoreless in the first half but exploded for 20 points after the break to help Cleveland erase the deficit.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

A star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who scored a team-high 27 points in the win.

James Harden

A veteran guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who scored 20 second-half points to fuel the team's comeback.

New Orleans Pelicans

The home team that led by as many as 12 points in the first half before falling to the Cavaliers.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to dig deep and fight back in the second half. Donovan and James really stepped up when we needed them most.”

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

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 try to regroup and get back on track in their quest to secure a postseason berth in the West.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Cavaliers' resilience and the star power of their backcourt duo of Mitchell and Harden. The win keeps Cleveland in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.