Mitchell Apologizes After Cavaliers' 4-0 Sweep as Harden Defends 12-Point Game 4

14 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 26

130-93 in Game 4 ended Cleveland’s season, and Donovan Mitchell responded with an emotional apology to Cavaliers fans for the Knicks’ Eastern Conference finals sweep.
James Harden took the opposite tack, saying he "did pretty good" after finishing with 12 points on 2-of-8 shooting and five turnovers, while also arguing Cleveland was still the better team.
Fan debate quickly split between Harden’s tone and his on-court value: one widely cited stat showed the Cavaliers at +1.8 with him on the floor and -8.8 when he sat.
That scrutiny also spread to coach Kenny Atkinson’s rotation, with questions over the bench and backup-guard choices after Cleveland’s reserves struggled whenever Harden rested.
Cleveland now enters an uncertain offseason with Mitchell promising the team will return, Atkinson under pressure and Harden’s expiring contract adding to the franchise’s decisions.

Is James Harden’s championship window officially closed, putting him on the brink of an infamous NBA record after this latest playoff collapse?

With the NBA's highest payroll ending in a sweep, will Cleveland now trade Donovan Mitchell to escape its expensive roster-building failure?