March 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) brings the ball up the court in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Cleveland Cavaliers point guard James Harden achieved another career milestone on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, becoming the ninth member of the 29,000-point club.
His journey to reach 30,000 points begins Wednesday when the Cavaliers depart for a game against the Orlando Magic.
“The Beard” put together another efficient game in a 115-101 win over Philadelphia, totaling 21 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds in 29 minutes. It was his sixth 20-point game since joining the Cavaliers in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The acquisition of Harden, Dennis Schroder, and Keion Ellis through trades has revitalized Cleveland, and they are now a half-game behind the New York Knicks in third place in the Eastern Conference.
“I’m thankful the Cavs gave me the opportunity to go out there and showcase my game,” said Harden, who scored 29,017 points in 17 seasons. “This is a testament to the hard work I’ve put in over the years.”
Harden is averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 11 games with the Cavaliers. The team has won 18 of its last 24, continuing a hot run that began in late December and was accelerated by the arrival of Schroder and Ellis from the Sacramento Kings.
All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell continues to average a career-high 28.4 points per game and has 5.8 assists, combining with Harden to form one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league.
“I like the communication they showed and I think James said it best,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They’re both desperate to win. We’ve been a little sidetracked with Donovan out with a (groin) injury, but I’m happy with it so far.”
Atkinson and Harden called the easy win over Philadelphia a “return game” a day after being completely outplayed at home in a 109-98 loss to the Boston Celtics.
The Cavaliers have lost their last eight games to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, East-leading Detroit Pistons and Boston, showing they are a step behind their fellow title contenders.
Cleveland has completed a season series with that team, giving them 17 games to iron out any issues before the playoffs begin.
“They’re an elite team and we’ve definitely got to get over that hump, that’s very clear,” Atkinson said. “We’re not there yet and we know we need to improve.”
The Cavaliers are 2-0 against the Magic this season, with Mitchell averaging 40.5 points. Paolo Banchero led Orlando by 32.0 points in the series, continuing a head-to-head rivalry that began in the 2024 postseason when Cleveland won seven straight.
Power forward Banchero has been on a roll since the All-Star break, pouring in 26.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in four 30-point games. He scored 33 points Sunday as the Magic defeated the host Milwaukee Bucks 130-91.
The Magic followed his lead by winning four straight and seven of their last 10 games to move past the 76ers and into the top six playoff rankings.
“Offensively, we’re looking for flow,” Banchero said. “I’m just going out there and being aggressive. If I can stop, get off the glass and run, I think I can find some really good shots.”
Orlando continued its upward trend despite losing forward Franz Wagner (left ankle sprain) and guard Anthony Black (abdominal muscle strain) indefinitely. Hopes for a quick return were dashed on Tuesday when the team refused to set a timetable.
–Field level media
