INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It’s not every day that you play your trade partner one day after making a major move.
That was the case between the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers, who swapped stars Monday with 36-year-old James Harden heading to Ohio and 26-year-old Darius Garland setting his sights on Southern California.
Tuesday’s game was never close. Cleveland won, 124-91, forcing 24 LA turnovers and only committing nine. Donovan Mitchell notched 29 points for the Cavaliers and only needed to play 30 minutes.
Ivica Zubac didn’t play for Los Angeles due to personal reasons. Derrick Jones Jr. returned and played his first game of the 2026 calendar year.
Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner broke down the game and the trade on Unclipped, TOT’s Clippers podcast.