JAMES Harden made an immediate impact in his return from injury, powering Cleveland Cavaliers to a hard-earned 106-102 victory over Brooklyn Nets in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) in Brooklyn, New York.
Back in action after sitting out two games due to a fractured right thumb, Harden finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in 36 minutes to lead the Cavs.
Jarrett Allen, facing his former team, added 20 points, while Evan Mobley chipped in 17. The Cavaliers continued to cope without Donovan Mitchell, who missed his third straight game with a groin strain.
Sam Merrill scored 15, and Dennis Schroder supplied 12 as Cleveland converted efficiently, shooting 48.6 percent from the field and capitalizing at the free-throw line, including several key makes late in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland appeared in control after Mobley extended the lead to nine, 98-89, but Brooklyn rallied and cut the deficit to a single point in the final seconds before the Cavs sealed the win with free throws from Mobley.
Michael Porter Jr. poured in a game-high 26 points to lead the Nets, rookie Danny Wolf delivered an impressive outing with 23 points and nine rebounds, and fellow newcomer Nolan Traore finished with 17.
In Chicago, Josh Giddey notched a triple-double of 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and Collin Sexton scored a game-high 22 points as the Bulls defeated the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, 120-97.
Chicago used a 27-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to secure its first victory since Jan. 31. The Bulls trailed 89-87 entering the fourth before ticking off the first 21 points, including seven from Matas Buzelis.
Sexton scored 14 of his points after halftime to spark seven Bulls in double figures. Buzelis scored 20 points while Leonard Miller added a career-best 15. Tre Jones (13), Guerschon Yabusele (12) and Nick Richards (11) followed.
In other results, Minnesota Timberwolves edged Denver Nuggets, 117-108; New York Knicks clobbered San Antonio Spurs, 114-89; and Memphis Grizzlies defeated Indiana Pacers, 125-106./PN
