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CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t play with their food. They quickly asserted control of Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards and led wire-to-wire before settling for a 138-113 victory.
Cavs fans embraced James Harden in his debut. Some of the loudest cheers of the night were reserved for his pregame introduction and anytime he did something on the court. The giveaway stick-beards helped add to the atmosphere as well.
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“[There was a] different buzz tonight,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I felt it when I walked into the arena. This is a superstar league. … It’s great for Cleveland. It’s great for this market, these fans. They had LeBron over here for a long time. This is another, in that category of superstar, which is really cool for everybody.”
Harden also enjoyed his first home game in Cleveland.
“The crowd is always crazy,” Harden said about playing in front of the home fans for the first time as a Cavalier.
“I come here as a visitor, they’re crazy. They’re about the Cavs, and the land, and very loyal. They show up every single night. It’s one of the things that I was most excited about. So tonight was no different.”
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Harden is here to win a championship. At this point in his career, competing for a title and being in a good financial position are what matter most.
“We all know why I’m here,” Harden said. “It’s one goal, and we all have that in common. So whether I score, take four shots, or take 20 shots. If we win the game, who cares?”
It’s difficult to draw too many conclusions from a game against an awful, tanking Wizards team, but the Cavs are considerably closer to that goal now than they were a little over a week ago.
Harden’s fit on the court remains seamless. Any team with Harden is naturally going to play more deliberately in the half-court. He plays at his own pace, but often to the benefit of his teammates.
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This led to 11 assists while providing 13 points on just four shot attempts. Harden’s ability to put stuff on the table without taking anything off it is exactly what you want when you add…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/11-takeaways-james-harden-home-110000922.html
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Publish date : 2026-02-12 11:00:00
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