NBA|

vsWashington Wizards

Cavaliers

138

Game StatusFinal

Wizards

113

Sam Merrill scores 32 as Cavaliers beat Wizards 138-113 in James Harden's home debut

Game Recap

By AP•Feb 12, 2026 • 2:35 AM

James Harden threads the needle with a behind-the-back pass to Jaylon Tyson, who finishes with a slam dunk for the Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND -- — Sam Merrill scored a career-high 32, Donovan Mitchell added 30, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 138-113 victory over the Washington Wizards in James Harden's first home game wearing wine and gold.

Harden had 13 points and 11 assists in 28 minutes for his second double-double in three games since being traded by the LA Clippers to the Cavaliers on Feb. 4. He was only 1 of 4 from the field, but went 10 of 12 from the foul line.

Cleveland has won five straight and 10 of its last 11. It was the fifth time this season the Cavaliers haven't trailed in a game.

Mitchell, fifth in the league in scoring at 29.0 points per game, had his 28th 30-point game. Jarrett Allen had 21 points and nine rebounds.

Kyshawn George had 17 points and Jamir Watkins 16 for Washington, which has dropped three straight and four of five.

The Cavs have won 15 straight games over the Wizards since 2022, the second-longest run against a team in franchise history.

Merrill had 26 points in the first half, making all nine of his shots from the field, including seven 3-pointers. It was the third time in franchise history a player had been perfect when making nine or more shot attempts in the first half.

The sixth-year guard scored 17 in the second quarter, including 12 during a 16-5 run that saw the Cavaliers go up 74-55 with 2:06 remaining. He finished 11 of 12 from the field and 9 of 10 on 3-pointers.

Cleveland led 76-61 at halftime but Washington started the second half with a 12-2 run to get within five. The Wizards would not draw closer though and the Cavaliers steadily pulled away, taking a 108-89 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Up next

Wizards: Host Indiana on Feb. 19.

Cavaliers: Host Brooklyn on Feb. 19.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Rocket Arena

Cleveland, OH

Date & Time

12:00 AM, February 12, 2026

Coverage

MNMT, FanDuel SN OH, NBA League Pass

Attendance

19,432

Referees

Tony Brothers, Karl Lane, Sha'Rae Mitchell

Regular Season Series

CLE leads series 3-0

Game Analysis

Statistics visualization

Game Stats

Get the latest game stats

Wizards

Cavaliers

42-104FG45-83

40Field Goal %54

14-463PT16-38

30Three Point %42

15-18FT32-37

19Offensive Rebounds16

21Defensive Rebounds35

26Assists30

13Steals9

4Blocks8

14Turnovers21

1Technical Fouls1

16Points Conceded Off Turnovers17

6Fast Break Points10

21Fouls15

0Largest Lead27

Match Leaders

2025-26 Southeast Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Atlanta	45	33	.577	W4
Charlotte	42	36	.538	W3
Orlando	41	36	.532	W1
Miami	41	37	.526	W1
Washington	17	60	.221	L5

2025-26 Central Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Detroit	57	21	.731	W3
Cleveland	48	29	.623	W1
Milwaukee	30	47	.390	L2
Chicago	29	48	.377	L6
Indiana	18	59	.234	L1

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Bub Carrington vs. Jarrett Allen (James Harden gains possession)	0	0
11:40	Jarrett Allen makes driving layup (James Harden assists)	2	0
11:18	Tre Johnson misses 7-foot pullup jump shot	2	0
11:16	Jaylon Tyson defensive rebound	2	0
11:11	Tre Johnson shooting foul	2	0
11:11	Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2	3	0
11:11	Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2	4	0
10:58	Bilal Coulibaly makes 1-foot two point shot	4	2
10:47	Jaylon Tyson misses two point shot	4	2
10:45	Jaylon Tyson offensive rebound	4	2
10:37	Sam Merrill makes 25-foot three point jumper (Donovan Mitchell assists)	7	2
10:28	James Harden shooting foul	7	2
10:28	Bilal Coulibaly makes free throw 1 of 2	7	3
10:28	Bilal Coulibaly misses free throw 2 of 2	7	3
10:25	Jarrett Allen defensive rebound	7	3
10:15	Sam Merrill makes 26-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)	10	3
10:06	James Harden blocks Tre Johnson 's 3-foot driving layup	10	3
10:04	Cavaliers Full timeout	10	3
10:04	(10:04) [Cavaliers] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL OVERTURNED) [Cavaliers] retain their timeout	10	3
10:04	Cavaliers defensive team rebound	10	3
9:49	Jamir Watkins shooting foul	10	3
9:49	James Harden makes free throw 1 of 2	11	3
9:49	James Harden makes free throw 2 of 2	12	3
9:34	Jamir Watkins misses 26-foot three point jumper	12	3
9:30	James Harden defensive rebound	12	3
9:26	Kyshawn George kicked ball violation	12	3
9:21	Bilal Coulibaly shooting foul	12	3
9:21	James Harden makes free throw 1 of 2	13	3
9:21	James Harden makes free throw 2 of 2	14	3
9:04	Tre Johnson misses 30-foot three point jumper	14	3
9:00	Jaylon Tyson defensive rebound	14	3
8:54	Donovan Mitchell makes two point shot	16	3
8:54	Jamir Watkins defensive goaltending violation	16	3
8:47	James Harden kicked ball violation	16	3
8:40	Sam Merrill shooting foul	16	3
8:40	Kyshawn George makes free throw 1 of 2	16	4
8:40	Kyshawn George makes free throw 2 of 2	16	5
8:24	Jarrett Allen makes 6-foot two point shot	18	5
8:07	Bilal Coulibaly misses 25-foot three point jumper	18	5
8:04	Jaylon Tyson defensive rebound	18	5
7:56	Sam Merrill makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Donovan Mitchell assists)	21	5
7:55	Wizards Full timeout	21	5
7:43	Donovan Mitchell shooting foul	21	5
7:43	Jamir Watkins misses free throw 1 of 2	21	5
7:43	Wizards offensive team rebound	21	5
7:43	Jamir Watkins misses free throw 2 of 2	21	5
7:40	James Harden defensive rebound	21	5
7:31	Donovan Mitchell makes driving layup (James Harden assists)	23	5
7:17	Tre Johnson makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot (Bilal Coulibaly assists)	23	7
7:06	Donovan Mitchell misses driving floating jump shot	23	7
7:04	Jarrett Allen offensive rebound	23	7
7:03	Jarrett Allen makes two point shot	25	7
6:50	James Harden shooting foul	25	7
6:50	Kyshawn George makes free throw 1 of 2	25	8
6:50	Keon Ellis enters the game for Donovan Mitchell	25	8
6:50	Dennis Schroder enters the game for Sam Merrill	25	8
6:50	Justin Champagnie enters the game for Jamir Watkins	25	8
6:50	Anthony Gill enters the game for Tre Johnson	25	8
6:50	Kyshawn George makes free throw 2 of 2	25	9
6:30	James Harden makes 33-foot three pointer	28	9
6:14	Kyshawn George makes 13-foot step back jumpshot	28	11
6:05	Jarrett Allen out of bounds bad pass turnover	28	11
5:42	Bub Carrington out of bounds bad pass turnover	28	11
5:32	Anthony Gill shooting foul	28	11
5:32	Jarrett Allen makes free throw 1 of 2	29	11
5:32	Jarrett Allen makes free throw 2 of 2	30	11
5:17	Kyshawn George bad pass turnover (Jaylon Tyson steals)	30	11
5:12	Jaylon Tyson misses two point shot	30	11
5:12	Kyshawn George defensive rebound	30	11
5:12	Thomas Bryant enters the game for Jarrett Allen	30	11
4:53	Dennis Schroder personal foul	30	11
4:53	Kyshawn George makes free throw 1 of 2	30	12
4:53	Nae'Qwan Tomlin enters the game for Jaylon Tyson	30	12
4:53	Kyshawn George makes free throw 2 of 2	30	13
4:46	Bub Carrington shooting foul	30	13
4:46	James Harden misses free throw 1 of 3	30	13
4:46	Cavaliers offensive team rebound	30	13
4:46	James Harden makes free throw 2 of 3	31	13
4:46	James Harden makes free throw 3 of 3	32	13
4:29	Anthony Gill makes driving layup (Bilal Coulibaly assists)	32	15
4:13	James Harden misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	32	15
4:11	Kyshawn George defensive rebound	32	15
4:00	Bilal Coulibaly makes driving dunk (Kyshawn George assists)	32	17
3:58	James Harden bad pass turnover (Bilal Coulibaly steals)	32	17
3:53	Kyshawn George makes 24-foot three point jumper (Bub Carrington assists)	32	20
3:36	Thomas Bryant misses 25-foot three point jumper	32	20
3:34	Bub Carrington defensive rebound	32	20
3:27	Justin Champagnie misses 27-foot three point jumper	32	20
3:22	Anthony Gill offensive rebound	32	20
3:22	Thomas Bryant blocks Anthony Gill 's 1-foot two point shot	32	20
3:22	Cavaliers defensive team rebound	32	20
3:22	Donovan Mitchell enters the game for James Harden	32	20
3:04	Dennis Schroder misses 31-foot three point jumper	32	20
3:03	Keon Ellis offensive rebound	32	20
3:03	Justin Champagnie personal foul	32	20
3:03	Keon Ellis misses free throw 1 of 2	32	20
3:03	Cavaliers offensive team rebound	32	20
3:03	Keon Ellis makes free throw 2 of 2	33	20
2:51	Donovan Mitchell personal foul	33	20
2:51	Kyshawn George makes free throw 1 of 2	33	21
2:51	Kyshawn George makes free throw 2 of 2	33	22
2:36	Bilal Coulibaly blocks Dennis Schroder 's 1-foot driving floating jump shot	33	22
2:36	Thomas Bryant offensive rebound	33	22
2:36	Justin Champagnie personal foul	33	22
2:36	Thomas Bryant makes free throw 1 of 2	34	22
2:36	Will Riley enters the game for Bub Carrington	34	22
2:36	Thomas Bryant makes free throw 2 of 2	35	22
2:22	Kyshawn George misses 26-foot three point jumper	35	22
2:21	Justin Champagnie offensive rebound	35	22
2:18	Dennis Schroder blocks Will Riley 's 3-foot layup	35	22
2:18	Justin Champagnie offensive rebound	35	22
2:13	Will Riley misses 23-foot three point jumper	35	22
2:09	Nae'Qwan Tomlin defensive rebound	35	22
1:58	Keon Ellis misses 22-foot three point jumper	35	22
1:55	Nae'Qwan Tomlin offensive rebound	35	22
1:51	Nae'Qwan Tomlin misses two point shot	35	22
1:50	Nae'Qwan Tomlin offensive rebound	35	22
1:50	Nae'Qwan Tomlin makes tip shot	37	22
1:30	Kyshawn George misses 15-foot jumper	37	22
1:26	Keon Ellis defensive rebound	37	22
1:17	Donovan Mitchell bad pass turnover (Kyshawn George steals)	37	22
1:08	Justin Champagnie makes running layup (Anthony Gill assists)	37	24
1:05	Donovan Mitchell misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	37	24
1:03	Anthony Gill defensive rebound	37	24
53.6	Kyshawn George misses 26-foot three point jumper	37	24
50.5	Cavaliers defensive team rebound	37	24
50.5	Justin Champagnie technical foul	37	24
50.5	Donovan Mitchell makes technical free throw	38	24
36.7	Donovan Mitchell makes 16-foot pullup jump shot	40	24
26.8	Keon Ellis blocks Kyshawn George 's 5-foot driving layup	40	24
26.8	Thomas Bryant defensive rebound	40	24
22.9	Anthony Gill blocks Nae'Qwan Tomlin 's 5-foot running dunk	40	24
22.9	Will Riley defensive rebound	40	24
3.8	Kyshawn George lost ball turnover (Nae'Qwan Tomlin steals)	40	24
0.0	(00:00) [Wizards] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (CALL OVERTURNED)	40	24
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	40	24

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Cavaliers

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Sam Merrill scores 32 as Cavaliers beat Wizards 138-113 in James Harden's home debut

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Regular Season Series

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