CLEVELAND — James Harden made his Rocket Arena debut as a member of the Cavaliers, and Cleveland blew out the Washington Wizards 138-113 on Feb. 11.
The Cavs have won their first three games with Harden on the floor after the blockbuster trade that sent Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers. Harden played in front of a home crowd in Cleveland for the first time in a Cavaliers uniform, along with Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, helping the Cavs extend their winning streak to five games with a wire-to-wire victory.
Here is how Cavs (34-21) versus Wizards (14-39) unfolded through our updates:
Cavs defeat Wizards 138-113
Guard Sam Merrill finished with a career-high 32 points on 11-of-12 shooting from the field (9 of 10 on 3-pointers) to pace the Cavs. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points.
Center Jarrett Allen had 21 points and nine rebounds. Harden posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists.
Forward Kyshawn George led the Wizards with 17 points.
Cavs lead Wizards 112-91 with 10:36 left in the fourth quarter
Two dunks early in the fourth quarter by Cavs forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin sent the Wizards into a timeout with 10:36 left to play. The Cavs led 112-91.
Tomlin recently had his two-way contract converted into a standard NBA deal (two years and $3 million guaranteed). He had eight points and five rebounds at this stage of the game.
Donovan Mitchell heats up, Cavs open 19-point lead entering fourth quarter over Wizards
Donovan Mitchell just about buried the Wizards late in the third quarter by nailing back-to-back 3s, and the Cavs will enter the fourth quarter leading 108-89.
Mitchell is up to 25 points, three rebounds and four assists. Sam Merrill still has a game-high 26 points. James Harden has 13 points and 11 rebounds.
James Harden sets up Jaylon Tyson, Cavs lead Wizards by 12
James Harden hit Jaylon Tyson with a perfect behind-the-back pass, leading to an easy dunk, and the Cavs are up 96-84 with 3:57 left in the third quarter.
Tyson has just seven points and five rebounds but has had an active third quarter. Harden has a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists.
Wizards chip away at Cavs lead in third quarter
News alert: Sam Merrill missed a shot. And in the meantime, the Wizards opened the third quarter on a 14-6 run to trim Cleveland’s lead to 82-75 with 8:00 left in the third quarter.
The Cavs offense has been a bit funneled in this quarter. Donovan Mitchell has all six points and has taken four of the six shots in the quarter thus far.
Sam Merrill catches fire and helps Cavaliers capture 76-61 halftime lead vs. Wizards
Cavs guard Sam Merrill put on a shooting clinic in the first half.
Merrill went 9-of-9 shooting from the field (7 of 7 on 3-pointers) and made his lone free-throw attempt in the first half, pacing the Cavs with 26 points en route to a 76-61 halftime lead against the Wizards. Yes, Merrill had a perfect shooting performance through two quarters. He also had a season high in scoring. He finished the first half just one point shy of tying his career-high 27 points.
Center Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. Guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell scored 11 points apiece. Harden also posted eight assists.
Forward Kyshawn George paced the Wizards with 13 points, and guard Sharife Cooper added 11 off the bench.
The Wizards cut their deficit to seven points with 5:35 left in the second quarter before Merrill took control. In the final 5:21 of the first half, Merrill produced three 3-pointers, a three-point play and a layup for 14 of his 17 points in the second quarter.
According to the Cavs, Merrill’s 7-of-7 mark on 3s is tied for the most 3s without a miss by any NBA player in an opening half since at least the 2002-03 season. Nine other players have done it. He is the first Cavs player to accomplish the feat in the same span, per the team.
Cavs’ lead cut to 54-47 vs. Wizards
The Cavs have led by as many as 19 points, yet the Wizards sliced Cleveland’s advantage to 54-47 when guard Sharife Cooper drained a 3-pointer with 5:35 remaining in the second quarter.
The Cavs responded with a timeout. At this juncture, they had been outscored 23-14 in the second quarter after leading 40-24 through one quarter. Washington got hot from 3-point range, making five of its first nine shots from deep in the second quarter. Cooper is 3-of-3 shooting on 3-pointers at this stage of the game.
Cavaliers lead Wizards 49-39 with 8:13 left in the second quarter
The Wizards trailed by 16 points at the end of the first quarter but cut their deficit to 49-39 with 8:13 left in the second quarter.
After Cavs point guard Dennis Schroder made a 3-pointer, guard Sharife Cooper answered with a 3 and guard Tre Johnson made a 6-foot jump shot for the Wizards. Cleveland then used a timeout.
Cavs put up 40-point first quarter vs Wizards
The Cavs offense is shredding the Wizards, and Cleveland has a 40-24 lead after the first quarter.
The Cavs shot 52 percent from the floor and hit four of their nine 3-point attempts.
James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Sam Merrill all have a team-high nine points. Harden also has two rebounds and two assists. Jarrett Allen has eight points.
Cavs, James Harden crushing Wizards
The Cavs are cruising in this one, now up 21-5 with 7:55 left in the opening quarter.
Sam Merrill is up to nine points on three 3s. James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen all have four points apiece. Jaylon Tyson has grabbed four rebounds. Everything has looked easy thus far.
Cavaliers, Wizards score: Cavs start hot in James Harden’s home debut
The Cavaliers are heavy favorites tonight, and the first two minutes have reflected that, as Cleveland has quickly opened up a 10-3 lead with 10:04 left in the first quarter.
James Harden has two assists and Sam Merrill has knocked down two 3s thus far.
Below is some pregame information.
Cavs vs. Wizards injury report
The Cavaliers will be without forward Evan Mobley (calf), forward Dean Wade (ankle) and guard/forward Max Strus (foot). All three are listed as out.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson noted prior to the Wizards game that Mobley is expected to be back after the All-Star break.
The rebuilding Wizards are decimated right now and will be without Anthony Davis (finger), D’Angelo Russell (not with the team), Trae Young (knee), Cam Whitmore (shoulder) and Jett Howard (ankle).
Cavs starters vs. Wizards
The Cavs announced they will start the following players:
Wizards starters vs. Cavs
The Wizards announced they will start the following players against the Cavs:
How can I watch/stream/listen to the Cavs vs Wizards game?
The Feb. 11 Cavs-Wizards game can be watched on the FanDuel Sports Network — Ohio. It can heard on the radio on 100.7 WMMS, 1100 WTAM and S: LA MEGA 1300.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs recap vs Wizards. Sam Merrill dominates James Harden’s home debut
Reporting by Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
