
Cavaliers’ James Harden Sidelined by Thumb Fracture
James Harden’s strong start in Cleveland has been interrupted by a fractured thumb, forcing the Cavaliers to slow his return and adjust their rotation.

James Harden’s strong start in Cleveland has been interrupted by a fractured thumb, forcing the Cavaliers to slow his return and adjust their rotation.

Cleveland center Jarrett Allen sustained a broken ring finger on his left hand and is listed as questionable for Friday’s NBA Cup matchup against Toronto as the Cavaliers face mounting injury concerns early in the season.

Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson has joined the league-wide debate over reducing the NBA’s 82-game schedule, arguing that a shorter season would lead to better performances, healthier players, and an improved product for fans.

Cleveland’s offensive struggles continued Thursday night as New York used a dominant second-half surge to secure a 109-93 victory and take full control of the Eastern Conference finals.

Cleveland’s season hangs in the balance after falling behind 3-0 to New York, prompting coach Kenny Atkinson to consider significant lineup adjustments ahead of Game 4.

Despite signs of improvement in recent weeks, the Cavaliers’ inability to control possessions and sustain defensive focus led to a 114–110 loss to Detroit that exposed lingering issues.