Harden's Playoff Collapse with Cavs

James Harden’s playoff nightmare deepens as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who acquired him at the trade deadline, were swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Harden delivered his worst statistical playoff performance since leaving Oklahoma City—shooting poorly, turning the ball over excessively, and failing to ignite the Cavs’ offense. Despite the crushing defeat, Harden insisted the Cavs were the better team, blaming circumstances over skill. Head coach Kenny Atkinson added to the confusion with an analytical twist, claiming the Cavs were “winning” games by expected metrics even while trailing. Harden’s numbers against the Knicks were alarming: under 40% from the field, less than 20% from three, and in some games, more turnovers than made shots. His defensive struggles, especially against Jalen Brunson, further highlighted his postseason inconsistency, raising serious questions about his impact when it matters most. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b13d03820ec94559