Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson lauded James Harden's tribute after his superb showing against the Detroit Pistons.

The Cavs won 116-109 on Saturday. The Pistons now lead the play-off series 2-1 after three games.

Harden struggled in the first two games of the series, shooting at 32%.

However, the 11-time All-Star, who has made the postseason in each of his 17 campaigns in the NBA, scored 19 points, with nine of those coming in the final quarter.

"It's the James Harden I've seen for how many years he's been in the NBA," Cavs coach Atkinson said.

"That's the James we know. We needed it.

"It was the variety of his repertoire that was impressive."

What Don said. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/1Ljv7qEBSc

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 9, 2026

Harden joined the Cavs ahead of the trade deadline earlier this season, with Cleveland bringing him in to be a difference-maker in key moments.

"I didn't average 30 points in the regular season; you know what I mean? I'm literally here to find my spots, figure out what needs to be done and try to contribute in the best way possible," Harden said.

"Chatter is going to be chatter regardless. Whether you do something good, whether you do something bad. For me, still, you give me opportunities in this fourth quarter, and I take advantage of them.

"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. That's the most important thing.

"When my number is called, just getting to my spots. It's something I work on literally every day. It's basically repetition and it's the confidence to go out there and do it."