Throughout his career, fans have criticized Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden for choking in the playoffs. His performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Tuesday did not help his case.
The Cavaliers blew a 22-point lead and lost to the Knicks in overtime, 115-104, at Madison Square Garden.
New York went on an 18-1 run in the fourth quarter, with Jalen Brunson consistently attacking the lackluster defense of Harden. Brunson scored 15 points in the final period, including the layup that sent the game into an extension.
Harden had 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting, including 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. He committed a team-worst six turnovers.
ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins did not hold back in calling out the former MVP’s terrible performance.
“Again, when the pressure is on, we watch Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers fold like clean sheets,” said Perkins.
“I gotta give a lot of blame to Harden and Kenny Atkinson. One, for having Harden on the floor. He was a defensive liability for them in that fourth quarter. Big Body Brunson, 7-for-8 in the fourth and overtime when James Harden was defending him.”
Donovan Mitchell did not escape Perkins’ blunt criticism as well.
“Last time I checked, Donovan Mitchell is still the number one option offensively for the Cavs! How many times did we see him standing in the corner and not touching the damn basketball?” added the one-time champion.
“When the pressure is on we watch [James] Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers fold like clean sheets.”@KendrickPerkins reacts to the Cavs' Game 1 loss. pic.twitter.com/5huzNZ2Mov
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 20, 2026
ESPN’s Charles Barkley also blasted the Cavaliers for their “choke job.”
In the last 10 minutes of regulation and overtime, Harden and Mitchell only combined for three points on 1-of-10 shooting, including 0-of-5 from three-point range.
Harden, who played with Perkins on the Oklahoma City Thunder, was huge for the Cavaliers in the second round against the Detroit Pistons, but he failed to sustain his proficiency against the Knicks—at least in Game 1.
