James Harden bailed out the Cleveland Cavaliers in their near-victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The Cleveland Cavaliers certainly didn’t make it easy on themselves, but the Wine and Gold survived a fourth-quarter comeback by the Chicago Bulls and pulled away with a 115-110 victory.
Yes, the Cavaliers were without Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen, and yes, the team is in the middle of a road trip, but Cleveland nearly lost this one to their Eastern Conference rival after leaving by 29 points.
The Cavaliers had to rely on a vintage James Harden performance to win the game.
Harden arguably put together his best game with the Cavaliers, scoring 36 points (his most as a Cavalier) while shooting 43 percent from the floor (10-for-23). The guard also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out nine assists.
Harden’s seven three-pointers tied a season-high, with the previous high coming when he was still a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.
He also became the fourth player in team history to score 36+ points, grab 7+ rebounds, record 9+ assists, and knock down 7+ threes in a game. The other players on this list are LeBron James, Mo Milliams, and Donovan Mitchell.
Mar 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton (2) defends Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) during the first quarter at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesIn many ways, this was a standout performance by Harden, but at the same time, if he didn’t put up these numbers, the outcome likely wouldn’t have gone in Cleveland’s favor.
Kenny Atkinson called it how everyone saw it on Thursday; Harden saved the Cavaliers from a devastating loss.
“He kind of saved us,” admitted Cleveland’s head coach after the game. “We can't rely on that. I can't rely on him, him. I know that's what he does, that's who he is, but I think people around him got to play better. Can't expect him to bail us out.”
To be fair, Evan Mobley also put together a solid game, scoring 26 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, but outside of that, the Cavaliers didn’t get much help on the scoring side of things, especially after Jaylon Tyson was forced to exit the game with what the team is calling a “toe issue.”
Harden has been advertised since he arrived in Cleveland. He’s still showing the ability to score at an elite level and has elevated the games of both of Cleveland’s big men, Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
That said, the Cavaliers can’t get used to having Harden bail them out. That’s not a recipe that will work in the playoffs.
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