CLEVELAND (AP) — James Harden endured plenty of criticism after the first two games of Cleveland's Eastern Conference semifinal series against Detroit.
With the Cavaliers in danger of falling into a 3-0 hole that no NBA team has ever overcome, the 17-year veteran showed he can still come up big in the clutch.
Harden hit three shots in the final two minutes Saturday to lift the Cavaliers to a 116-109 victory over the Pistons in Game 3.
“I love it. When my number’s called, just getting to my spots,” said Harden, who finished with 19 points and seven assists in 40 minutes. “Don(ovan) Mitchell had been working so extremely hard throughout the course of the game, just trying to find opportunities to help him. So that last minute and a half, two minutes, however long it was, it presented itself. And for me, just going out there and taking my shots.”
Harden was 8 of 14 from the field after going 3 of 13 in Thursday's 107-97 loss at Detroit. His long-distance shooting also picked up as he went 3 of 7 on 3-pointers. He was 3 of 20 from beyond the arc in his last four games before Saturday.
“It’s the James Harden I’ve seen for how many years he’s been in the NBA. That’s the James we needed tonight,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We were searching and we got some good screenings into the matchups we wanted and he went to work.”
Harden was scoreless in the fourth quarter and took only two shots during the second half on Thursday, along with a critical turnover in the final minute that ended any hopes of a Cleveland comeback.
The 2018 NBA MVP had nine points in the fourth quarter on Saturday, with seven coming in the final 89 seconds.
With the shot clock running down, Harden drove the lane and hit a 16-foot step-back jumper with 1:29 remaining to push Cleveland's lead to 108-104.
After a driving dunk by Detroit's Cade Cunningham, Harden came up big again. He drove past Duncan Robinson and made a floating 7-footer in the paint to put the lead back up to four.
Cunningham responded with a 3-pointer before Harden provided the decisive blow with 25 seconds remaining on a step-back 3-pointer while being guarded by Tobias Harris to make it 113-109.
″(James Harden) We understand that he hit some tough shots and made an impact on the game. But we can be tougher than that," Harris said.
After committing 11 turnovers the first two games of the Detroit series and averaging 5.2 in Cleveland's first nine playoff games, Harden had only three on Saturday. It was only the second time he has committed fewer than four this postseason.
“I’m literally here to find my spots and figure out what needs to be done and try to contribute in the best way possible. So I mean, chatter is going to be chatter regardless. I mean, whether you do something good, whether you do something bad,” Harden said. “I’ve done an unbelievable job throughout the course of my career of just understanding what the job needs to be, especially as I get older and doing whatever it takes to win the game. So that’s the most important thing.”
Mitchell, who had 35 points and 10 rebounds, said there is a balance for opponents in figuring out who to guard because of the scoring ability of him and Harden.
“Having the ultimate trust in him and vice versa I think is why those moments happen. Every game calls for something different and you've got to be able to just kind of find a way to manipulate it and be selfless. And I think as a collective, that’s the biggest thing,” Mitchell said.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) shoots over Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris, left, in the second half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) shoots as Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) defends in the first half of Game 3 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Faith leaders and politicians paid tribute at a funeral Saturday to eight children who were killed in a mass shooting last month in Louisiana.
The victims of the April 19 shooting in Shreveport included seven siblings who were shot by their father in an attack that also killed their cousin.
The service on Mother’s Day weekend at Summer Grove Baptist Church began with a long procession of mourners slowly filing past eight white caskets with large photos of the children next to them. Gold crowns and bouquets of white flowers were placed on top of the closed caskets. A choir behind the altar and individual singers performed throughout the service.
“In spite of how you may be feeling today, we still need to know that God is still good,” Bishop Bernard Kimble, senior pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church, said in opening remarks.
The funeral's pamphlet contained tributes to each of the children, who ranged in age from 3 to 11. Some of them had affectionate nicknames: 3-year-old Jayla Elkins was called “Jaybae”; Kayla Pugh, 6, was “K-Mae”; and Mar’Kaydon Pugh, 10, was “K-Bug.”
Six-year-old Khedarrion Snow had “a sweet and loving heart,” and “though his life on earth was short, his light was mighty,” according to the pamphlet. Layla Pugh, 7, was “bright, intelligent, bold, and full of love” and enjoyed making TikTok videos with her siblings and cousins.
Pastor and gospel singer Kim Burrell reminded family and community members trying to make sense of the shootings that “God is still on the throne.”
“To ask the question, 'Why is this fair, God? How could you, Lord?' He’s still God,” Burrell said. “The same God that healed you from the stuff that you don’t want to tell nobody about. But he is a God that doesn’t have to give us all the clues. Just know that he makes no mistakes.”
The children’s father, Shamar Elkins, used an assault-style weapon despite a 2019 felony firearms conviction. His wife, who was seeking a divorce, and another woman were wounded in the shooting that stretched across two houses in a Shreveport neighborhood.
Elkins died after fleeing and a police pursuit. It was not clear whether he was killed by officers who fired or from a self-inflicted gunshot, according to police.
An investigation remains ongoing into the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years.
During the service, other speakers included Shreveport Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor, who acknowledged that “there are no words sufficient to ease this pain,” while Councilman James Green implored audience members to collectively “take off our funeral face” because “this is a celebration” of the children's lives.
Indeed, churchgoers often stood clapping their hands in response to singers and speakers. The children's names were read or shown several times throughout the service, where Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux expressed the city's condolences.
“May we honor them by carrying forward the gentleness, joy and love they so freely shared,” Arceneaux said.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry ordered U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff over the next week at the Capitol and state government buildings. A message read from Landry said the victims “were the light of their homes and the heart of their classrooms. They were full of promise and found joy in the simplest things, such as dancing, playing outside and sharing laughter with family and friends. Their futures were bright and held great promise.”
“It is incumbent upon us to honor the memory of those lost by standing together against such senseless violence.”
Among those in attendance was former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, whose political career was cut short by a 2011 assassination attempt.
“She just wanted to come and just let the family know that this pain is not just in Louisiana,” said U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Louisiana. “This pain is all across the nation.”
Buses were made available afterward to transport mourners to a graveside burial. At the conclusion of the church service, Kimble prayed for healing to begin.
“Help us as we move from this spot,” he said. “Because we know, oh God, grief is only temporary. And if we'll put our hands in your favor, you'll lead us through this.”
Roses are placed on caskets during the burial of the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Forest Park Cemetery West in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The caskets of the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, arrive for burial Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Forest Park Cemetery West in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Caissons carry the caskets of eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Forest Park Cemetery West in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Mourners walk by caskets for the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, during funeral services for the children Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
People listen during funeral services for the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., center, stands during funeral services for the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Caskets for the eight children killed during a mass shooting last month are seen during funeral services for the children Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux speaks during funeral services for the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Photos of Kayla Pugh are displayed during funeral services for the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux speaks during funeral services for the eight children who were killed during a mass shooting last month, Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
