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James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers during an NBA playoff game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers went down 2-0 to the Detroit Pistons after Thursday’s loss in Game 2.

James Harden had another rough game, finishing with just 10 points on 13 shots and committing four turnovers in the Cavs’ 107-97 loss. Harden is averaging 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the first two games against the Pistons.

However, the former NBA MVP is also shooting just 32.1% from the field and a shocking 9.1% from beyond the arc. He has also turned the ball over 11 times already.

Cleveland Cavaliers Facing Possible James Harden Injury Concern

GettyJames Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks off the court after being defeated by the Detroit Pistons 107-97 in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.

Speaking on the Wine and Gold Talk Podcast after Game 2, Cavs insider Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer revealed that Harden might have some type of injury on his left hand.

“James is not doing the things that he was brought here to do,” Fedor said. “And now there’s another variable. He was having an extended conversation with one of the Cavs trainers in the locker room after the game tonight, and he kept his left hand in his jacket pocket so that nobody could see it as he was doing his media session in the locker room.”

The reporter added, “It sounded like there was an ice bag on his left hand. So I don’t know if it’s thumb, finger, hand, don’t know. But it’s something that we’re going to have to watch.”

A hand injury would explain Harden’s struggles with his shooting and taking care of the basketball. However, it’s not the only concern Fedor has for the veteran guard.

“This Eastern Conference semifinal series is every other day, and he just doesn’t have the kind of recovery time that he did at points in the Toronto series to kind of get recharged up, give his body a rest, get him back into a state where he didn’t feel physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted,” Fedor said.

Game 3 of the Pistons-Cavaliers series is scheduled for Saturday in Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell Not Worried About James Harden

GettyDonovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers react against the Toronto Raptors during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

From the way Cavs players and coach Kenny Atkinson spoke about James Harden after Game 2, it didn’t seem like he was dealing with an injury. Donovan Mitchell even sounded confident that Harden will have a bounce-back game on Saturday at home.

But in order for that to happen, Mitchell wants the entire team to support Harden on the court through the “little things.”

“Think of just the little things, spacing, trying to get him easier looks,” Mitchell said. “Honestly, just him, just continue to be in attack mode, right? He’s James Harden. We’re not sitting here worried. He’s going to figure this out, and we got to do a better job around him as well, whether it’s spacing or put him in different positions.”

Mitchell has been the lone bright spot for the Cavs in the first two games against the Pistons. He’s averaging 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals.