James Harden returned from a broken thumb to score 22 points, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Brooklyn Nets 106-102 on March 1, 2026. The Cavaliers snapped a two-game losing streak, improving their record against the Nets to 12-1 in the last 13 meetings. Brooklyn suffered its eighth consecutive loss.
The game took place in New York, where the Nets hosted the Cavaliers. Harden, a 17-year veteran traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to Cleveland on February 4, missed two games after fracturing his thumb in a 109-94 home win over New York on Tuesday. X-rays on Wednesday confirmed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx, but he returned effectively, shooting 5 for 9 from the field, 4 for 7 from three-point range, and 8 for 12 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out eight assists.
Jarrett Allen contributed 20 points for Cleveland, while Evan Mobley added 16 points and 13 rebounds. Sam Merrill scored 15 points, and Dennis Schroder finished with 10. The Cavaliers trailed 56-42 at halftime, as the Nets shot 50% from the field (21 for 42). However, Cleveland mounted a comeback in the second half, building an eight-point lead with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Brooklyn fought back late, closing to 102-99 on a basket by Nolan Traore with 28.6 seconds remaining and to 102-101 after two free throws by Danny Wolf with 9.2 seconds left. Schroder then made a pair of free throws, and after Wolf hit 1 of 2, Cleveland led by two with 5.9 seconds to go. Additional free throws from Schroder and Mobley sealed the victory.
For the Nets, Michael Porter Jr. led with 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting, Danny Wolf added 23 points and nine rebounds, Nolan Traore scored 17, and Grant Nelson had 11. The loss marked Brooklyn's eighth straight defeat and 11th in 13 games, dropping them to 15-45 overall.
Cleveland played without Donovan Mitchell, sidelined for a third game with a groin injury, and Dean Wade, out with a sprained ankle. The Cavaliers next host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, while the Nets travel to face the Miami Heat on the same day.
