The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a gritty, come-from-behind win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets, erasing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to edge out a 119-117 victory. And while the final score tells you it was close, the story of how they got there is all about the new-look chemistry between Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Jarrett Allen.
Let’s start with Harden - because he’s completely reshaped the way this team plays.
This isn’t the same Cavs offense we saw earlier in the season. Gone is the heavy reliance on transition buckets and fast-paced chaos. What we’re seeing now is a half-court clinic, orchestrated by a future Hall of Famer who still knows how to manipulate a defense like few others in the league.
Harden’s gravity - the way he pulls defenders toward him - changes everything. Every time he probes the paint, defenders collapse, and when they do, he’s ready to punish them.
One kick-out, one swing pass, and suddenly someone’s wide open. That kind of controlled offensive tempo is Harden’s signature, and the Cavs are leaning all the way into it.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson made it clear after a recent win over Sacramento: he’s not forcing Harden into a system. “I don’t think systems win championships.
Players do.” That mindset is already paying off.
Over the last two games, Cleveland’s half-court offense has been operating at a 120 offensive rating - elite stuff, ranking in the 95th percentile. They’re also sitting at 109.9 overall, which places them in the 82nd percentile. That’s not just good - that’s “we might be onto something” territory.
Harden’s presence has also unlocked a new level for Donovan Mitchell, especially as a playmaker. We’ve always known Mitchell can score - he’s a downhill force with explosive athleticism and the touch to finish at all three levels.
But as a facilitator, it’s been more of a mixed bag. He can whip a cross-court dart to the corner and deliver slick drive-and-kick passes, but when it comes to feeding bigs or making the second or third read, he’s sometimes struggled.
Now, with Harden on the floor drawing extra attention, those reads are becoming a lot clearer.
Take a few key plays from the Denver game. On one, the Nuggets tried to keep Nikola Jokić out of the action, but a miscommunication left Jarrett Allen wide open when two defenders stuck with Harden.
Easy bucket. That’s the kind of mistake Harden forces - he makes defenses second-guess themselves.
On another possession, Mitchell found Jaylon Tyson cutting for a layup, capitalizing on a scrambling defense that was too worried about Harden to stay disciplined. And then there was a pin-down set with Allen that let Mitchell read and react in rhythm - exactly where he thrives.
Mitchell’s passing ability has never been the issue - it’s the recognition. Harden’s presence is helping him slow the game down just enough to see those openings more clearly.
And while Harden isn’t known for his defense, he brought something valuable on that end, too. He’s not locking up guards at the point of attack, but he’s strong enough to hold his ground in the post.
That was crucial against someone like Jokić. Late in the game, Harden’s help defense forced a rare Jokić turnover on Denver’s third-to-last possession - a moment that arguably saved the game.
A few seconds later, he drilled a tough three to tie it up. That sequence?
That’s why you trade for James Harden.
Jarrett Allen, meanwhile, just keeps doing his thing - and doing it well. He’s thrived in this new setup, but let’s be clear: he was playing at a high level even before Harden arrived.
Against Denver, Allen dropped 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting, showing off his soft touch and aggressive mindset. He’s a nightmare matchup for Jokić in a lot of ways. Offensively, his screens force Jokić to make decisions the Nuggets typically try to avoid - they like to keep him near the rim, but Allen’s screening and rolling opens up space for Cleveland’s guards to attack.
Defensively, Allen is one of the few bigs who can make life tough for Jokić without constant double-teams. He stayed in front of him, held his ground, and allowed the Cavs’ perimeter defenders to stay home. Jokić still got his triple-double, because that’s what he does, but he also turned the ball over seven times - a number that speaks to the kind of pressure Cleveland was able to apply without fully selling out.
This version of the Cavaliers - with Mitchell and Harden sharing the backcourt - is still in its infancy. They’ve only played two games together, and they haven’t had a full practice yet.
But the early returns? They’re promising.
Mitchell is the engine, always in attack mode. Harden is the chess master, slowing things down and picking apart defenses with precision.
It’s a classic one-two punch: speed and power, finesse and control. When they’re clicking, it’s a beautiful thing to watch.
And the best part? This might be the rough draft. There’s still room for growth, especially when Evan Mobley returns to the lineup and adds another layer of versatility to both ends of the floor.
But even now, the floor for this duo is high. And if they keep building on this chemistry, the ceiling? That could be something special.