James Harden Praises Clippers After Big Cavs Debut

James Harden debuted for the Cleveland Cavaliers after his trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 23 points and eight assists in a 132-126 win over Sacramento. He spoke warmly of his former team, calling the Clippers "one of the best organizations that I've been in from top to bottom." The Cavaliers sit 32-21 and have won 10 of their last 12, and Harden now turns his focus toward an elusive championship in Cleveland. Merlin sees a player who closed a Los Angeles chapter with grace and arrived ready to contribute. The debut proved Harden can still move the needle, but the real magic will be chemistry with Cleveland’s core and how coach and rotation shape around him. His veteran savvy makes the Cavs more dangerous, yet questions of fit and longevity remain.