NBA roundup: Harden claims Cavs are 'building something special' after win over Knicks

[p]The Cavs took the lead barely a minute into the game with an [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mobley-evan/SrZZLQHj/"]Evan Mobley[/a] three-pointer, and never gave it up in a thoroughly comfortable night for the red-hot Ohio franchise.[/p][p]Former NBA Most Valuable Player [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harden-james/zm5V3CZo/"]Harden[/a], who was brought in from the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-clippers/vPeTYlqm/"]Los Angeles Clippers[/a] this month, has never won a championship despite being one of the most decorated players in the league.[/p][embed guid="09c8faa3-e4dd-4109-831c-90d67c85bc2b" url="https://x.com/cavs/status/2026497119872225484?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]That was a key factor in his move to the seemingly playoff-bound Cavs, where he has only suffered one loss across seven games, and "The Beard" excelled again, providing four assists against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]Knicks[/a].[/p][p][b]"We're working to build something special, and each game is an opportunity to get better," [/b]said Harden. [b]"Tonight was a good step for us."[/b][/p][embed guid="daff96a9-b060-473a-92f7-f0e70121c7bf" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2026464621222039831?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]They drew level on 37 wins and 22 losses with the Knicks - third in the Eastern Conference - who were poor with their shooting accuracy, making just 11 points in a shocking third quarter.[/p][h2]Around the league[/h2][p]Elsewhere, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edwards-anthony/6u0BMZM2/"]Anthony Edwards[/a] poured in 34 points as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-timberwolves/KjBIVQcI/"]Minnesota Timberwolves[/a] earned a hard-fought [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/minnesota-timberwolves-KjBIVQcI/portland-trail-blazers-4Awl14c5/?mid=2imMaWMq"]124-121[/a] win against the Portland Trail Blazers.[/p][p]Edwards - MVP at this month's All-Star Game - managed 25 of his points in an explosive first half.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/charlotte-hornets/xftMikUg/"]Charlotte Hornets[/a] beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-bulls/bPjc49q0/"]Chicago Bulls[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/charlotte-hornets-xftMikUg/chicago-bulls-bPjc49q0/?mid=xr5F3uOH"]131-99,[/a] with rookie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/knueppel-kon/YDOmqcSE/"]Kon Knueppel[/a] racing to his 200th three-pointer.[/p][p]Aged 20, the Hornets prodigy is the fastest player to reach that mark in NBA history, requiring just 58 games.[/p][embed guid="ed02043e-2859-4b2c-991d-551011422e9e" url="https://x.com/NBA/status/2026488050054742040?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maxey-tyrese/r9DvnZeC/"]Tyrese Maxey[/a] sank 32 points plus nine rebounds and eight assists as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-76ers/vwRW2QSh/"]Philadelphia 76ers[/a] beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/indiana-pacers/YPohMUTt/"]Indiana Pacers[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/indiana-pacers-YPohMUTt/philadelphia-76ers-vwRW2QSh/?mid=Ovutkt9O"]135-114[/a].[/p][p]The Pacers reached last year's NBA Finals, but have struggled badly this campaign, sinking to the very bottom of the East.[/p][p]Congolese forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kuminga-jonathan/dKgxjMRF/"]Jonathan Kuminga[/a] scored 27 points on his debut for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-hawks/xAO4gBas/"]Atlanta Hawks[/a] in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/atlanta-hawks-xAO4gBas/washington-wizards-W6vGWPsn/?mid=E3Kk9qft"]119-98[/a] win over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/washington-wizards/W6vGWPsn/"]Washington Wizards[/a].[/p][p]The Western Conference-leading Thunder racked up another win, seeing off the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-raptors/CxtbCMdU/"]Toronto Raptors[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/oklahoma-city-thunder-0fHFHEWD/toronto-raptors-CxtbCMdU/?mid=Ieuc6yuh"]116-107[/a].[/p][p]And the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-celtics/KYD9hVEm/"]Boston Celtics[/a] consolidated their grip on second spot in the East with a 97-81 win over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/phoenix-suns/M1Gy2pra/"]Phoenix Suns[/a].[/p]