The Cleveland Cavaliers’ road trip to Sacramento on February 7, 2026, was packed with drama, high-octane offense, and a debut performance for the ages. In a game that saw 17 lead changes and enough twists to fill a playoff series, Cleveland’s new-look backcourt—Donovan Mitchell and James Harden—delivered a statement 132-126 victory over the Sacramento Kings, extending the Kings’ skid to a staggering 12 consecutive losses.
For Cavaliers fans, this one’s going to be talked about for a while. The win marked Cleveland’s third straight and their eighth in the last nine games, signaling a squad on the rise and brimming with confidence. As head coach Kenny Atkinson put it after the game, “We have a confidence about us now. There’s no panic. Reminded me of last year where we were just kind of calm, in the moment. They were making incredible shots and played great, but we kept our calm. Helps when you have James Harden and Donovan Mitchell to help close a game like that.”
Harden, acquired just four days earlier in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, didn’t have the luxury of a practice with his new teammates. He looked a bit rusty at first, missing his opening shots and feeling out the Cavaliers’ offense. “I just gotta figure out where I fit in,” Harden admitted. “That won’t be hard at all. I told the guys just do what you all do and I’ll figure it out. I’m good enough to figure it out and insert myself in. But you know, no practices. This is my first time playing 5-on-5 since about a week ago, so it’s a little rusty. I’m just happy we got the win.”
If the first half was about learning, the second half was all about asserting. Mitchell, who finished with a game-high 35 points, started quietly with just 6 points at halftime. But then he cranked up the intensity, scoring 12 in the third and a jaw-dropping 17 in the fourth quarter. “When you have a guy who’s established like that ... it takes that little bit of—not awkwardness because I’ve known him, but it’s one of those things when you’re trying to figure it out, it took a half to be like, ‘OK,’” Mitchell said about playing with Harden. “It’s a testament to him; it’s a testament to our group. And it’s not just me; it’s everybody. You just continue to take steps, and then when it was time for the fourth quarter, you just pick and choose.”
Harden was every bit the closer Cleveland hoped for, pouring in 15 of his 23 points in the final frame. He made all his shots in the fourth, including four field goals, three from deep, and four clutch free throws. The chemistry between Mitchell and Harden was undeniable when it mattered most: they combined for 32 of the Cavaliers’ 39 fourth-quarter points, and according to Elias Sports Bureau, became the first Cavs teammates to each score at least 15 points in the fourth quarter of any game in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97). “Made all the big plays,” Atkinson said of Harden. “He was the closer. Him and Donovan really synched up at the end to make the big plays.”
Jarrett Allen, often the unsung hero, was a force in the paint. He finished with 29 points—his third-highest output this season—on a sizzling 11-of-12 shooting, and grabbed 10 rebounds for his third straight double-double. Allen also made his presence felt at the free-throw line, going 7-for-8, and was a steadying anchor as the Cavaliers weathered Sacramento’s runs.
The Kings, meanwhile, were desperate for a win and played like it. Rookie Nique Clifford erupted for a career-high 30 points, knocking down 5 of 9 from three-point range. Russell Westbrook chipped in with 21 points and 9 assists, while Dylan Cardwell added 12 points and 11 rebounds—four of those on the offensive glass, helping Sacramento to a 27-16 edge in second-chance points. Sacramento’s hot shooting (16 of 37 from deep) kept the game tight, and their resilience was clear as they built a double-digit lead in the third quarter and kept answering Cleveland’s charges.
But the Cavaliers’ bench, newly fortified by deadline acquisitions Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, kept them in the hunt. Schroder scored 7 points with 4 assists and 3 rebounds, while Ellis contributed 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in 17 high-energy minutes. “They just wreak havoc,” Mitchell said of the second unit. “That’s a special group. Our young guys have been doing it all year and now you add two new guys in Keon and Dennis, it’s big time.”
The fourth quarter was a showcase of poise and star power. Mitchell started by scoring Cleveland’s first 11 points of the period, keeping the Cavs within striking distance. When Harden checked back in with eight minutes left and the Cavs trailing, he immediately drilled a transition three to put Cleveland ahead. Even after Sacramento regained a seven-point lead with under five minutes to play, Cleveland responded with an 8-0 run punctuated by another Harden triple. The arena groaned, Harden celebrated with his signature “stir the pot” gesture, and the Cavaliers’ bench erupted.
With less than a minute remaining, DeMar DeRozan tied the game with a clutch three-pointer for Sacramento. But Mitchell answered with a fearless drive, drawing a foul and sinking both free throws to give Cleveland the lead. Harden then iced the game at the charity stripe, capping an 18-5 closing run by the Cavaliers.
Cleveland’s efficiency at the line (29 of 32) was crucial, especially in the closing minutes, where Harden and Mitchell went a combined 8-for-8 in the last 1:46. The win not only showcased the Cavaliers’ new backcourt but also the depth and resilience of a team determined to contend.
For Sacramento, the loss was a bitter pill—now 12 straight defeats and six in a row at home. Clifford’s breakout, Westbrook’s all-around effort, and Cardwell’s hustle on the boards were bright spots, but the Kings just couldn’t close out against a surging Cavs squad.
The Cavaliers now look ahead to the final stop on this road trip—a tough matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. If this game was any indication, Cleveland’s new star duo is just getting started, and the rest of the league should take notice.