Cavs Overcome Slow Start to Defeat Sixers Behind Harden's Historic Night

Cleveland rallies in second half to win 115-101 despite early struggles

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a sluggish start to defeat the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers 115-101 on Monday night. James Harden led the way with 21 points and 5 assists, including a dominant third-quarter stretch that propelled the Cavs to victory. Donovan Mitchell and Keon Ellis also provided key contributions off the bench as Cleveland improved to 45-25 on the season.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the Cavaliers' ability to overcome adversity and lean on their veteran leadership when needed. Despite an uninspired first quarter, Cleveland was able to turn up the intensity in the second half and pull away from a depleted Sixers squad. The performance showcased the Cavs' depth and versatility as they continue their push towards the playoffs.

The details

The Cavaliers struggled early, scoring just 26 points in the first quarter as their offense stalled. However, a second-quarter surge led by Donovan Mitchell and Keon Ellis gave Cleveland a double-digit lead that they would not relinquish. In the third quarter, James Harden took over, scoring 9 points and dishing out 4 assists in a dominant 5-minute stretch that broke the game open. The Cavs' balanced scoring attack, with 6 players reaching double figures, proved too much for the short-handed Sixers to overcome.

  • The Cavaliers led by just 6 points after the first quarter.

The players

James Harden

A veteran NBA player who scored 21 points and dished out 5 assists, including a dominant third-quarter stretch that propelled the Cavaliers to victory.

Donovan Mitchell

A key contributor off the bench for the Cavaliers, scoring 9 quick points in the second quarter to help Cleveland build a double-digit lead.

Keon Ellis

A guard for the Cavaliers who scored 11 of his 18 points in the second quarter, knocking down three 3-pointers to spark Cleveland's offense.

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What they’re saying

“We've slipped in these games before earlier this year. So it's going to be a mentality for us, especially on a back-to-back.”

— Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers Head Coach (cleveland.com)

“Process-driven, but it's also driving the mentality, right? Like the mentality, we're not there yet. We have a lot to prove, chip on your shoulder. You want to be a champion, you have to have championship habits, right? Championship mentality, everything that goes into that.”

— Kenny Atkinson, Cavaliers Head Coach (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to build on this victory when they travel to Orlando to face the Magic on Wednesday night.

The takeaway

Despite a slow start, the Cavaliers were able to rely on their veteran leadership and balanced scoring attack to overcome the short-handed Sixers. This game showcased the team's ability to adapt and respond to adversity, an important trait as they continue their push towards the playoffs.