By Matt Audilet0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The Cleveland Cavaliers' 2026 NBA postseason run came to a disappointing end on Monday night as the team suffered a lopsided 130-93 loss at the hands of the New York Knicks. This Game 4 defeat resulted in an Eastern Conference Finals series-ending sweep .
Donovan Mitchell held up his end of the bargain in the season-ending loss, recording a game-high 31 points. However, veteran guard James Harden put forth a disappointing effort — recording just 12 points on 2 of 8 shooting from the field and 0 of 6 shooting from behind the 3-point arc with a team-high five turnovers.
After the Cavaliers' Game 4 loss, Mitchell went to bat for Harden — defending his teammate's NBA legacy.
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“This man changed the game of basketball,” Mitchell said, via NBA insider Marc J. Spears. “Changed the game of basketball in ways we have never seen before. We live in such a ring-dominant culture that we were willing to write a guy off, a guy that has transcended basketball. Seventy-five years, no one has done what he does.
“You can say the same about Steph Curry, [Allen] Iverson, [Michael] Jordan. James Harden is in there. So yeah, I can relate to not reaching a certain point. I also feel like we also don’t talk about [Harden’s] greatness enough.”
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After Monday night's loss, both Mitchell and Harden expressed their desires to return to Cleveland in 2026-27 and finish what they started.
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“Don is a great, great guy, man,” Harden said of Mitchell. “Great kid. He’s getting married. He’s on a great path. He gets it. He puts the work in. I think it makes sense, us two, to where he wants to win bad and I do, too. So, we got some reassessments to do this summer. We have to get better. Our roster has to get better, and we will go again next year.”
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