James Harden didn’t exactly circle Cleveland on his wishlist, but if Saturday night was any indication, the fit might be better than anyone expected. In his Cavaliers debut against the Sacramento Kings, Harden showed flashes of why this move could be a win-not just for him, but for the entire Cavs roster.
Let’s be clear: the start was rough. Harden and Donovan Mitchell looked like two stars trying not to step on each other’s toes-tentative, out of sync, and clearly still figuring out how to share the floor. But then came the fourth quarter, and everything changed.
With the Cavs trailing by two heading into the final frame (Kings up 96-94), the duo finally clicked. Harden and Mitchell combined for 32 points in the fourth, flipping the game on its head and snapping Sacramento’s losing streak in emphatic fashion. Harden finished with 23 points, Mitchell poured in 35, and suddenly the question wasn’t if this pairing could work-it was how good they could be once the chemistry fully develops.
And make no mistake, that chemistry is still a work in progress. This was their first game together. But the flashes were there-especially late-and that’s more than enough to get Cavs fans excited.
One player who’s already reaping the benefits of Harden’s arrival? Jarrett Allen.
The big man had a field day in the pick-and-roll, going 11-for-12 from the field thanks largely to Harden’s precision passing. It’s the kind of two-man action that can become a staple of Cleveland’s offense moving forward.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson wasn’t overly animated postgame, but his confidence in Harden’s ability to elevate those around him came through loud and clear.
“He’s so smart,” Atkinson said. “Jarrett Allen’s 11-for-12 because James is hitting him in the pocket and finding him on the roll.
That’s how you ingratiate yourself with your teammates and your new team. James’ number one attribute is making others better.”
That’s been Harden’s calling card throughout his career-his ability to manipulate defenses and create easy looks for his teammates. Even as he enters the back end of his playing days, that skill hasn’t faded.
If anything, it’s become more refined. Against the Kings, he repeatedly found Allen in stride, forcing Sacramento’s defense into tough decisions and creating chaos with every possession.
Allen certainly noticed. “He’s definitely looking for you on every single roll,” he said after the game.
“And he’s a threat to shoot the ball, which makes it even harder for guards to guard him in the pick-and-roll. He’s an amazing offensive player.
He’s gonna give me looks I’ve had for a while, but he’s gonna do it on another level.”
That’s the kind of impact Harden can have-he doesn’t just fit into an offense; he shapes it. And if Saturday night was any indication, he’s already starting to mold this Cavs team into something dangerous.
There’s still work to do. One strong fourth quarter doesn’t erase the early awkwardness or guarantee long-term success.
But it’s a start. And in a league where star pairings often take time to gel, Harden and Mitchell already showed they can carry a game when it matters most.
For Cleveland, that’s a promising sign of things to come.