James Harden Crosses 29,000 Points in Cavaliers’ Comfortable Victory
Mar 9, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) brings the ball up court against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers returned to winning ways in style by dominating the Philadelphia 76ers 115-101. Facing an opponent without Tyrese Maxey (finger injury), Joel Embiid (oblique injury), Paul George (suspension) and VJ Edgecombe (lower back contusion), the Cavs took care of business without breaking a sweat.
James Harden led the charge with 21 points on 6/11 shooting and 5 assists, crossing the symbolic 29,000-point career milestone to become the 9th player in NBA history to reach that plateau. « It’s a testament to his resilience, » said coach Kenny Atkinson. « It’s so difficult in this league to do it for so long, so consistently. This version of James that we’re seeing… a complete player and a floor general. And what he’s given us so far is everything we need to win. »
Keon Ellis Shines in His Best Game in a Cavs Jersey
Keon Ellis delivered his best performance since arriving in Cleveland with 19 points on 5/9 shooting, including an excellent 4/7 from three-point range in 26 minutes. After a disappointing performance against the Celtics (-15 differential without scoring a single point), the guard bounced back perfectly. « We’re just discovering his offensive capabilities, » Atkinson noted. « I saw some things I hadn’t seen him do yet. »
Cavs Keon Ellis 19 PTS (5-9 FG, 4-7 3P), 2 REB, 1 STL, 0 TO, team-high +25 (+/-) vs. Sixers https://t.co/fsjuiHdK2t pic.twitter.com/aFBlRQ77rn
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) March 10, 2026
Donovan Mitchell added 17 points and 6 assists despite 4/11 shooting, compensated by a perfect 9/9 from the free-throw line. Evan Mobley contributed 15 points on 7/12 shooting, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks, continuing to develop his pick-and-roll chemistry with Harden.
For the Sixers, Quentin Grimes led the way with 17 points on 6/13 shooting, while Justin Edwards sparkled off the bench with 14 points on 5/6 shooting and 3/4 from three-point range. The Cavaliers pulled away definitively in the third quarter with a 14-6 run orchestrated by Harden, before Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson and Thomas Bryant drove the nail in with a series of three-pointers to extend the lead to 25 points.
This victory allows the Cavs to regroup after their loss to Boston, showing they can handle these trap games against depleted teams. The Cavaliers will return to action Wednesday night on the road against the Orlando Magic.
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