Harden & Mobley Shine, Cavaliers Lead 2-1!

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 17: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 17, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).

| NBAE via Getty Images The Cleveland Cavaliers did just enough to outscore a bad Milwaukee Bucks team 123-116 that was without two of their best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. It’s difficult to be too positive about the overall effort after a game like this, even though it’s an improvement from Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks . All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

A “B” grade represents that player performing to our expectations for them. James Harden 27 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals This was a vintage, prime Harden game. He put up 27 points on just 10 shot attempts, got to the free-throw line at will, and made sure the offense got a quality shot every time he had the ball in his hands.

It was a great response from someone who struggled on both ends of the floor in the loss to the Mavs. Grade: A Donovan Mitchell 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists This was about as rough a game as you’re going to see from Mitchell, even though the box score numbers above wouldn’t suggest that. He wasn’t inefficient from the floor, going 4-14, and struggled defensively against a team that doesn’t have many players who should be able to easily take opposing guards off the dribble.