James Harden Seeking Redemption After Difficult Road Games

The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a record of 52-30. They were fourth in the Eastern Conference, and the Raptors were right behind them. Toronto finished the season with a record of 46-36, and while the Atlanta Hawks had the fifth seed, their loss to the Miami Heat gave the Raptors an advantage. Fast forward a bit, and Toronto won the last two games of the series against Cleveland.

Scottie Barnes and his teammates pulled off a 126-104 win in Game 3, and he had a double-double of 33 points and 11 assists. Then, the Raptors beat the Cavs 93-89 to tie the series.

Cleveland kicked things off with a 126-113 win, and the team had strong performances from multiple players. Donovan Mitchell was the leading scorer with 32 points. Then, the Cavs had four more players who scored in double figures, as Max Strus had 24 points, Harden had 22 points, Evan Mobley had 17, and Jarrett Allen had 10.

The Cavs’ stars continued to shine in the second game, as Mitchell had 30 points, Harden had 28, and Mobley had 25. Cleveland controlled those first two games, but things have changed since then. The hungry, contending team had a chance to gain a 3-0 lead and possibly sweep the Raptors, but they struggled in their road games. Now, the Cavaliers are headed back home and are looking to get back on track.

Can Harden and the Cavs Bounce Back?

One of the things impacting the series is the performance of Cleveland’s stars. Harden and Mitchell started the series on a good note, but since then, they have had a hard time. The Cavs’ new star was their leading scorer in Game 3, and he had 18 points. He also had eight turnovers, and the Raptors took advantage of those mistakes. Then, in the second game, Harden had 19 points and 7 turnovers.

Coming into the series, Harden’s play was a hot topic. He had a strong regular season, as he averaged 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in his games with the Clippers. When he came to Cleveland, he averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds.

When it comes to the playoffs, Harden has a reputation. Some people would call him a “playoff choker,” and while he has made the postseason 17 times, he has yet to win it all. This is an opportunity to put an end to those talks and win it all. However, the Raptors are giving the Cavaliers a scare.

If Cleveland does get back on track, Harden and his teammates can put themselves on a path towards a championship. They will face the winner of the Detroit Pistons/Orlando Magic series, and the Magic have a lead over the top seed. The Magic are on a mission, and they can pull off an upset and keep their playoff journey going.

Cleveland’s Series Continues

The Cavaliers and Raptors series will continue tonight, and after getting a chance to rest, Harden and the Cavs are hoping to regain the lead. For that to happen, Harden needs to have a big game.