James Harden expressed frustration over the Cavaliers' late-game collapse in their 93-89 loss to the Raptors, acknowledging the need for improvement. The Eastern Conference playoff series is tied 2-2 as they prepare for Game 5.
Key points
James Harden finds studying Game 4 film frustrating
"We’ve got to be better. We will be better," Harden said after the Cavs practiced on April 28 at Cleveland Clinic Courts.
An 11-time All-Star, Harden realizes he really needs to be better as Cleveland's starting point guard.
The best-of-seven Eastern Conference series between the fourth-seeded Cavs and fifth-seeded Raptors is tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at Rocket Arena.
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Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) loses possession of the ball battling against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks for a basket against the Toronto Raptors during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) reaches to block a shot from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) loses possession of the ball battling against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) loses possession of the ball battling against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) and forward Scottie Barnes (4) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks for a basket against the Toronto Raptors during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs Game 4 photos
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) reaches to block a shot from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The pressure is palpable, and experience should matter, right?
Entering the 2026 playoffs, the Raptors' nine-man rotation had a combined 65 postseason games on its resume, according to TSN. Harden had 173 playoff games under his belt.
In Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland, Harden and fellow Cavs star guard Donovan Mitchell shined. In Games 3 and 4 in Toronto, Harden and Mitchell struggled mightily.
"We're extremely confident," Harden said. "... Everybody's thrown a lot of punches at each other, and Game 5 is an opportunity for us to take advantage of the series. We understand their game plan and what they're doing. The last two games they've been pretty effective at it. Just finding things to counter that, to rebound the ball better and limit turnovers.
"If they're doing something that we just didn't understand what they were doing or we couldn't control it or we just had no idea, we couldn't stop it, then it's a different conversation. But I think all the things that we're doing is self-inflicted and things that we can control, things that we can get better at."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden looks away while making a pass against the Toronto Raptors during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden looks away while making a pass against the Toronto Raptors during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
The 36-year-old Harden directed blame toward himself for committing too many turnovers and failing to ensure Cavs big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen become more involved with the offense, especially when the Raptors downsize to a smaller lineup.
"Whoever has the advantage, we've got to take advantage of that," Mobley said. "And from there, the game will be a lot easier instead of trying to force the ball to certain people and playing stagnant basketball."
Canada has not been kind to Harden or the Cavs this postseason. Harden followed a season-high eight turnovers in Game 3 with seven turnovers in Game 4. The Raptors have been top-locking Harden and Mitchell, switching on screens and pressuring. The Raptors rallied from a 2-0 series deficit by being more physical than the Cavs.
"A lot of it was self-inflicted for me, my turnovers, which is a lot, too many. But a lot of it was self-conflicted," Harden said. "Give them credit. They're a good defensive team — physical. They swarm the basketball on the drive, but a lot of them, for me, I can correct, and I'll be better."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden looks for a passing option as he is covered by Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden looks for a passing option as he is covered by Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson has used a baseball analogy — "keep hitting singles — to describe how he hopes Harden and Mitchell will execute in Game 5 and beyond.
Harden's interpretation of the analogy?
"Just being decisive and basically making a simple pass sometimes," Harden said. "The simple play might not be the pass. It might be a screen. Just making the easy play consistently over and over and over and over, which will lead to good things."
The Cavs need good things after letting the commanding series lead they earned in Cleveland slip away.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.