Cavaliers Crush Clippers 124-89 After Garland-Harden Trade

Cleveland's new superstar duo leads blowout win over Los Angeles

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and dished out 9 assists, while Jaylon Tyson added 17 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Los Angeles Clippers 124-89 on Wednesday night. The lopsided victory came just days after the Cavaliers pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers' dominant win over the Clippers showcases the team's new superstar pairing of Mitchell and Harden, who are expected to lead Cleveland's push for an NBA championship this season. The trade for Harden was one of the biggest moves of the NBA offseason, and this game provides an early glimpse of how the two stars will mesh on the court.

The details

Mitchell and Harden combined for 46 points, 15 assists, and 8 rebounds to power the Cavaliers' offensive onslaught. Cleveland jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 37 points in the second half. The Clippers struggled to contain the Cavaliers' dynamic duo and had no answer for Cleveland's balanced scoring attack.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

All-Star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who was acquired in a blockbuster trade during the offseason.

Jaylon Tyson

Forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers who contributed 17 points in the win over the Clippers.

James Harden

Veteran All-NBA guard who was recently traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Cleveland Cavaliers, forming a new superstar duo with Donovan Mitchell.

Los Angeles Clippers

NBA team based in Los Angeles that was blown out by the Cavaliers in this game.

Cleveland Cavaliers

NBA team that dominated the Clippers behind the strong performances of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough matchup, but our guys came out with a lot of energy and really set the tone early. When Donovan and James are clicking like that, we're a tough team to beat.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers (Cavaliers.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to build on this dominant win as they continue their push for an NBA championship this season. Their next game is on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors, in a potential NBA Finals preview.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' blowout victory over the Clippers showcases the team's new superstar duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, who appear to be meshing well together and leading Cleveland's charge towards an NBA title.