James Harden’s huge fourth quarter leads Cavaliers to Game 3 win

When the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted James Harden probably the most in Sport 3, the divisive star delivered.

Following a tough begin to the Japanese Convention semifinals in opposition to the Detroit Pistons, Harden had his finest sport of the second-round collection as Cleveland scored its first win, 116-109, to keep away from the dreaded 3-0 deficit, from which no workforce in NBA historical past has recovered.

The 11-time All-Star made his largest affect within the fourth quarter of an in depth sport, scoring 9 of his 19 factors on 4-of-5 taking pictures, together with a setback jumper, floater and three on consecutive possessions with below 90 seconds remaining and the Cavs nursing a one- or two-point lead.

It was the kind of efficiency Cleveland doubtless envisioned when buying Harden at this 12 months’s commerce deadline. And it got here not a second too quickly.

Cavaliers guard James Harden silences critics with massive fourth quarter in Sport 3 win over Pistons

Over the collection’ first two video games, the Cavs averaged 99 factors per sport, effectively beneath their regular-season common (119.5 factors per sport), and Harden was partly accountable. The 17-year veteran, who’s developed a troubling knack through the years for underperforming within the postseason, shot 32.1 %, together with 9.1 % from past the arc, whereas averaging 16 factors, 5 assists and 5.5 turnovers per sport.

With Donovan Mitchell (35 factors on Saturday), the workforce’s major scorer, Cleveland would not want its offense to run by Harden. However it does want Harden to choose his spots and ship, which he did for the primary time within the collection in Sport 3.

With the Cavaliers up two and a minute left in regulation, Harden crossed over Pistons guard Duncan Robinson to get to the rim, the place he made a floating jumper over heart Jalen Duren.