James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers entered Game 4 facing elimination against the New York Knicks after falling behind 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. No team in NBA history has recovered from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series, and Cleveland needed a strong response at home to extend its season.
Instead, the Knicks controlled the game from the start. They went on a 20-0 run and finished the opening quarter with a 12-point lead.
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New York did not pump the brakes in the second quarter, with Jalen Brunson again leading the offense as Knicks fans inside Rocket Arena broke into MVP chants. Cleveland responded with a brief run late in the half, but still trailed 68-49 at halftime.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1).© David Richard-Imagn Images
Harden scored 12 first-half points but attempted only one shot in the second quarter.
During ESPN’s halftime coverage, the “Inside the NBA” crew called out the Cavaliers for their lack of effort in a must-win game. Former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal singled out Harden’s performance and expressed his displeasure towards the 11-time All-Star.
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“James Harden is doing what James usually does … disappear,” O’Neal said.
Harden has struggled throughout the series, averaging 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists entering Monday’s game. He has particularly struggled to generate offense alongside Donovan Mitchell, recording 12 turnovers in three games.
Cleveland traded for Harden in February to ease the offensive pressure on Mitchell and give the roster another reliable postseason scorer. Instead, the Cavaliers have depended heavily on Mitchell almost throughout the playoffs.
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The Knicks closed out a 130-93 victory to complete the sweep and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. For the Cavaliers, attention now turns to the offseason and questions surrounding the roster, including Harden’s future with the franchise.
Related: Knicks’ Historic Win Against Cavaliers Came With Major Officiating Mistakes
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.