Sam Merrill scores 32 as Cavaliers beat Wizards 138-113 in James Harden's home debut

CLEVELAND (AP) — Sam Merrill scored a career-high 32, Donovan Mitchell added 30, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to a 138-113 victory over the Washington Wizards in James Harden's first home game wearing wine and gold.

Harden had 13 points and 11 assists in 28 minutes for his second double-double in three games since being traded by the LA Clippers to the Cavaliers on Feb. 4. He was only 1 of 4 from the field, but went 10 of 12 from the foul line.

Cleveland has won five straight and 10 of its last 11. It was the fifth time this season the Cavaliers haven't trailed in a game.

Mitchell, fifth in the league in scoring at 29.0 points per game, had his 28th 30-point game. Jarrett Allen had 21 points and nine rebounds.

Kyshawn George had 17 points and Jamir Watkins 16 for Washington, which has dropped three straight and four of five.

The Cavs have won 15 straight games over the Wizards since 2022, the second-longest run against a team in franchise history.

Merrill had 26 points in the first half, making all nine of his shots from the field, including seven 3-pointers. It was the third time in franchise history a player had been perfect when making nine or more shot attempts in the first half.

The sixth-year guard scored 17 in the second quarter, including 12 during a 16-5 run that saw the Cavaliers go up 74-55 with 2:06 remaining. He finished 11 of 12 from the field and 9 of 10 on 3-pointers.

Cleveland led 76-61 at halftime but Washington started the second half with a 12-2 run to get within five. The Wizards would not draw closer though and the Cavaliers steadily pulled away, taking a 108-89 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Wizards: Host Indiana on Feb. 19.

Cavaliers: Host Brooklyn on Feb. 19.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) shoots between Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) and forward Anthony Gill (16) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Washington Wizards' Skal Labissiere, left, knocks the ball away from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (16) and Cleveland Cavaliers' Dennis Schroder (8) reach for the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) drives against Washington Wizards guard Jamir Watkins (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, celebrates with teammate Sam Merrill, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in Cleveland, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge turned to the Bleacher Creatures during their first-inning Roll Call at the New York Yankees' home opener Friday, bent a knee and flexed with both arms in honor of Brett Gardner.

“Still hoping he gets a chance to come back here and share his knowledge with the boys a little bit,” Judge said after his go-ahead, two-run homer in the first inning started the Yankees to an 8-2 win over the Miami Marlins. “He was a big part of this team, his long tenure here as a Yankee, so I always like paying him a little credit. He's tuned into the game and watching.”

Gardner spent his entire big league career with the Yankees from 2008-21, and Judge made his major league debut with New York in 2016. Judge started flexing for Roll Call when playing center field, Gardner's old position. Judge roomed with Gardner in 2017.

“He was a leader. He was a professional. He was a prankster. He was everything that you look for in a guy to lead the team,” Judge said, speaking slowly and choosing his words carefully. “He took me in at a young age when I first got here and he treated me just like everybody else and showed me respect. He taught me a lot of things. It kind of teaches you how to lead a clubhouse. He had a big influence on me not only on the field but inside this clubhouse, just the way he played the game and the way he held everybody to a standard. Very few guys are made like Brett Gardner.”

Gardner has been in the Yankees' thoughts even more since March 2024, when his youngest son died at age 14 during a family vacation in Costa Rica. Authorities determined carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death.

Judge, the team captain, wanted the Yankees to arrive in style after opening 5-1 on their West Coast trip.

“That's Cap, again, setting the tone,” said Ben Rice, who homered and drove in three runs. “Sent us a text late last night saying: `Hey, suits tomorrow.' So everybody was fired up and we were happy to continue that momentum out on the field.”

Trent Grisham reached leading off with the first of 11 walks by Marlins pitchers and Judge drove a slider into the left-field seats against Eury Pérez for a 2-1 lead.

Judge, who had three RBIs, hit a record 20 first-inning home runs last year, when he finished with 53. Three of Judge’s five hits this season have been home runs.

Coming off his third AL MVP award and first batting title, Judge is off to a slow start with a .185 average.

He gave his teammates a scare in the second inning when he was hit below the right wrist by a 98.9 mph fastball from Pérez, one pitch after Grisham's bases-loaded walk.

“I’ve broken my wrist like that, so that’s always the main concern,” Judge said.

Judge missed 45 games after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis on July 26, 2018.

“Felt like he was probably OK but I tend to jump up a little quicker when it’s to him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) hits a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) walks back to dugout during the fifth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) successfully steals second base during the eighth inning of a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees outfielders Cody Bellinger (35), Trent Grisham (12) and Aaron Judge (99) embrace each other after wining a home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of the Yankees' home-opener baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)