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The Cleveland Cavaliers, riding high with new star James Harden making his debut, secured a thrilling 132-126 victory against the Sacramento Kings this Sunday (PH time) at the Golden 1 Center.

With just 42 seconds remaining, DeMar DeRozan nailed a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 126. On the ensuing possession, Donovan Mitchell drew a foul and calmly sank both free throws to put Cleveland back on top. Russel Westbrook's potential game-tying three-pointer on the next possession rimmed out, and Harden sealed the victory by making all four of his subsequent free throws.


The win marked the Cavaliers' third consecutive victory while extending the Kings' dismal losing streak to 12 games.

The Kings started strong, building an early six-point lead in the first quarter. However, the Cavaliers fought back in the second, unleashing a 15-2 run over 3 minutes and 40 seconds to take the lead, entering halftime with a narrow two-point advantage.

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After the break, the Kings, fueled by a strong effort from Westbrook, went on a 14-3 run in the third quarter to reclaim a double-digit lead.

The Cavaliers responded immediately with an 11-0 surge led by Donovan Mitchell, igniting a tense back-and-forth battle that saw the lead change hands multiple times down the stretch.

Mitchell led all scorers with 33 points, including 17 in the decisive fourth quarter, proving instrumental in the Cavaliers' comeback. Center Jarrett Allen delivered a powerful double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds. In his long-awaited Cavaliers debut, Harden made an immediate impact, contributing 23 points and 8 assists.

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For the Kings, young guard Clifford scored a career-high 30 points in a losing effort. Veteran guard Russell Westbrook got a solid all-around stat line of 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Following this matchup, the Cavaliers will travel to face the Denver Nuggets on February 10, Tuesday, while the Kings will visit the New Orleans Pelicans on the same day.