James Harden Makes Instant Impact in Cavaliers’ Clutch Win
The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a dramatic 119-117 comeback over the Denver Nuggets, with late-game plays that swung the result in their favor. James Harden, in just his second game with the team, provided a timely boost and helped shift momentum down the stretch.
Harden’s late heroics
After trailing for much of the second half, the Cavs started closing the gap late in the fourth. Harden drained a key three-pointer that tied the game and energized Cleveland’s push. He finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, showing he can still deliver in high-pressure moments despite just joining the roster.
Final moments and takeaways
With the score tied in the closing seconds, Donovan Mitchell drew a foul and calmly sank both free throws with 0.9 seconds left to give Cleveland the lead. Denver had one last shot at the buzzer, but Nikola Jokić’s potential game-tying three missed. Jokić still recorded a triple-double (22 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists), while Jamal Murray added 17 points and 11 assists for the Nuggets.
The win extends Cleveland’s recent hot stretch and highlights how dangerous they can be when their core clicks. For Denver, the loss was their fourth in five games, a rough patch as they try to regain consistency.
