Gone are the days when James Harden led a top-tier army in Houston, only bowing—barely—to the mighty Warriors. Since then, the one-time league dominator with his methodical pace, part trickster, part cold-blooded assassin, had crashed everywhere he went: Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Los Angeles. So much so that we had grown used to seeing him as unreliable when the stakes were highest.
The start of this series was no different. The Beard had more turnovers than assists in the first two games against the Detroit Pistons. The gold standard of floor generals was dragged through the mud in two contests where the Cleveland Cavaliers looked light-years behind their opponent. Not tonight. Tonight, with the series shifting to Ohio, the Cavs responded, and Harden woke up just in time from his bad dream. He was the one who swung the game in his team’s favor. A 116-109 victory that thrusts them back into the series.
It was a back-and-forth affair with several lead changes, though Cleveland built a substantial advantage well after halftime. They led by as many as 17, only to see it evaporate before the fourth quarter. In the final frame, Evan Mobley flashed the potential that was expected of him but never fully realized. Between him and the steady stream of points from Donovan Mitchell (who finished with 35), the Cavs rebuilt a comfortable lead. Then Duncan Robinson appeared, punishing from deep with four three-pointers to tie the game once more.
With time winding down, it was time for the stars. Then something unthinkable happened. Mr. Fourth Quarter, Cade Cunningham, already flirting with a triple-double, committed three uncharacteristic errors on three consecutive possessions. Three bad passes—two stolen by opponents, one sailing out of bounds—turned a 104-104 tie into a 108-104 Cleveland lead. The final bucket was a Harden layup with 1:29 remaining, his first hint of dominance.
JB Bickerstaff called timeout, and as great players do, Cunningham’s first action upon returning was a thunderous dunk. Harden answered with a perfect floater, and Cunningham countered with a step-back three from the top of the key. The star duel was set: 50 seconds left, Cavs up by one (110-109).
JAMES HARDEN PUTS CLEVELAND UP 4.
CADE CUNNINGHAM BRINGS DETROIT WITHIN 1.
HIGH-LEVEL 4Q HOOPS ON NBC/PEACOCK 😳
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— NBA (@NBA)
May 9, 2026
How would the challenge be resolved? The Beard drilled another three with 26 seconds left, then contested—without touching but enough to disrupt—a desperate three-point attempt by Robinson. Mitchell sealed the win from the free-throw line, giving the Cavs a 2-1 series deficit but entirely different vibes than they brought back from Detroit. The series is alive again.
CLUTCH BUCKET BY JAMES HARDEN 💯
CAVS WIN GAME 3 AT HOME.
DET (2-1) CLE I Game 4: Monday, 8pm/et, NBC/Peacock
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— NBA (@NBA)
May 9, 2026