Cavs confident in Dennis Schroder with James Harden's status uncertain

Veteran point guard steps up with Harden, Mitchell and Mobley out against surging Bucks

Feb. 26, 2026 at 7:26am

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With James Harden sidelined by a thumb injury and Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley also out, veteran point guard Dennis Schroder stepped up for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 26 points and keeping the depleted Cavs in the game. Head coach Kenny Atkinson expressed full confidence in Schroder's ability to lead the team in Harden's absence.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers are dealing with key injuries to their top scorers, putting more pressure on Schroder to help carry the offense. His performance showed the team can rely on him to step up when needed, which will be crucial as they try to maintain their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The details

Schroder orchestrated the offense, exploited mismatches, and provided a scoring punch to keep the Cavaliers competitive against the surging Bucks. He hit a game-tying shot in the final minute and finished with 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Atkinson praised Schroder's ability to run the point, saying he's always viewed him as a starting-caliber point guard in the league.

  • On Wednesday night, the Cavaliers played without Harden, Mitchell and Mobley against the Bucks.

The players

Dennis Schroder

A veteran point guard who was part of the Cavaliers' trade deadline moves. He stepped up with 26 points, 5 assists and steady leadership in the absence of the team's top scorers.

James Harden

The Cavaliers' star player who suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right thumb, putting his immediate availability in question.

Jarrett Allen

The Cavaliers' center who has dealt with his own finger injuries and recognized the severity of Harden's thumb issue.

Kenny Atkinson

The Cavaliers' head coach who expressed full confidence in Schroder's ability to lead the team in Harden's absence.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' other star player who was sidelined with a groin strain against the Bucks.

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What they’re saying

“Full confidence in Dennis. He's a vet. Knows how to run the offense. He led us. Was really important to keep us in the game.”

— Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers center (cleveland.com)

“I've always felt in my mind that he is a starting point guard in this league. That's the way I've always looked at him. He's done it before. If that is the situation then we are covered with Dennis — if his ankle is OK. We have to check that. Was a pretty bad twist he had there.”

— Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers head coach (cleveland.com)

“Whatever the team needs. Next man up mentality. It's everybody who steps on the court. We had three superstars down and we still competed. When we have those three guys in there, I want to impact the game in other areas because we have enough scoring. Today was a little bit myself. Played a little bit more freely. It was great for me. But at the end of the day, we lost the game and that's what matters most.”

— Dennis Schroder (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will monitor Harden's thumb injury and Schroder's ankle injury to determine their availability for the team's upcoming games.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers showed they can rely on veteran point guard Dennis Schroder to step up and lead the offense when their top scorers are sidelined, which will be crucial as they navigate potential absences down the stretch and into the playoffs.