Game ID: 22300934
Phoenix Suns @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, March 11, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 41 29 21 20 111PHX 32 31 34 20 117
CLE vs PHX ScoutingCLE vs PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT LeVert missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 30 min (105% of 28)
OUT Thompson missed 19 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 27 min since (161% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 10 min since (78% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 20 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 30 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 28 min since (168% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 9 min since (68% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 21 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 33 min since (116% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 26 min since (153% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 10 min since (80% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 22 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 33 min since (118% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 24 min since (144% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 9 min since (69% of 13)
NEW Allen 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 34 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 3 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 23 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 32 min since (114% of 28)
NEW Okoro 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 7 since 3/01, returns tonight: 28 min (78% of 36)
OUT Strus missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 24 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 32 min since (114% of 28)
NEW Allen 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 22 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Strus missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 25 since 1/24, returns tonight: 16 min (144% of 11)
BACK Mitchell back 3/13 after 7, 28 min since (78% of 36)
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Strus missed 7 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/13 after 7, 27 min since (75% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 16 min since (144% of 11)
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Strus missed 8 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/13 after 7, 27 min since (75% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 15 min since (137% of 11)
NEW Okoro 26 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/03 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 30 min (109% of 28)
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 20 min since (60% of 34)
NEW Bol 11 to 22 min over the last 4
PHX availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restBACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 27 min since (80% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 30 min since (109% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 11 to 19 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 30 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Bol 11 to 16 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 4 since 3/03, returns tonight: 38 min (105% of 36)
OUT Okogie missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Beal back 3/02 after 5, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/14 · 2 days' restOUT Okogie missed 5 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/03 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 34 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 26 min (92% of 28)
OUT Okogie missed 6 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
NEW O'Neale 25 to 33 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Okogie missed 7 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 26 min since (92% of 28)
PHX availability going into 3/20 · 2 days' restOUT Okogie missed 8 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Booker back 3/11 after 4, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Gordon back 3/15 after 2, 24 min since (85% of 28)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mitchell (6 straight), Strus (4 straight), Eva. Mobley (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Beal at 20 a game. Without Booker (4 straight), Okogie (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 11. Call it Cleveland 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/05 vs BOS 105-104 — CLE notes
CLE won 105-104. CLE shot 43% (39 of 90) to BOS's 42%, 20 of 42 from three. CLE turned it over 8 times to BOS's 13. The glass went 42-53 against them. Wade led with 23 (8 of 11, 6 of 9 from three); Allen added 21, Garland 16. The hinge was Q4, 34-17: CLE came in trailing by 16 and left it ahead by 1. CLE trailed 45-55 at the half and won the second half 60-49. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/06 @ ATL 101-112 — CLE notes
CLE lost 101-112. CLE shot 44% (39 of 89) to ATL's 51%, 10 of 44 from three. Allen led with 18 (7 of 11); Okoro added 17, Garland 15. Q3 was theirs, 40-23, turning a 15-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-61 against them. Niang's -16 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 vs MIN 113-104 — CLE notes
CLE won 113-104 in 1 overtime. CLE shot 43% (38 of 88) to MIN's 41%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 36 times to MIN's 22 — 26 points from the stripe to their 18. Garland led with 34 (13 of 26, 2 of 10 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Allen added 33, Niang 16. The hinge was OT1, 16-7: from level to 9 ahead. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/10 vs BKN 101-120 — CLE notes
CLE lost 101-120. CLE shot 49% (37 of 76) to BKN's 53%, 14 of 32 from three. Niang led with 20 (8 of 12, 3 of 5 from three); Allen added 15, Garland 14. Q2 was theirs, 23-23, but the other 3 periods went 97-78 against them. Jones's -17 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/11 vs PHX 111-117 — CLE notes
CLE lost 111-117. CLE shot 48% (40 of 84) to PHX's 55%, 15 of 46 from three. Garland led with 30 (10 of 17, 7 of 10 from three); LeVert added 17, J. Allen 15. Q1 was theirs, 41-32, but the other 3 periods went 85-70 against them. They led by as many as 19. Garland's -16 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murphy III at 22 and Ingram at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Daniels (12 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 22 and Allen at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mitchell (7 straight), Strus (5 straight), Eva. Mobley (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Cleveland's 35 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-5. Call it New Orleans 116, Cleveland 107.
3/16 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ja. Green at 23 and VanVleet at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 24 and Allen at 20 a game. Without Strus (6 straight), Eva. Mobley (5 straight), Wade (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 35. Call it Houston 114, Cleveland 110, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/18 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and Haliburton at 18 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Garland at 23 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Strus (7 straight), Eva. Mobley (6 straight), Wade (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 37 percent from three to Indiana's 31. Call it Indiana 117, Cleveland 112.
3/20 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 19 and Allen at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Strus (8 straight), Eva. Mobley (7 straight), Wade (5 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 101, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; Adebayo at 19 and Butler III at 17 a game. Without Butler III (2 straight), Herro (12 straight), Richardson (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Miami's 29 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Cleveland minus-4. Call it Cleveland 109, Miami 106, Miami keeping it close.
3/03 vs OKC 110-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 110-118. PHX shot 44% (40 of 91) to OKC's 48%, 14 of 39 from three. PHX turned it over 21 times to OKC's 5, and OKC turned those into 16 steals. Beal led with 31 (10 of 14, 3 of 5 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Durant added 20, Gordon 15. Q3 was theirs, 33-23, the deficit cut from 14 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 95-77 against them. They led by as many as 13.
3/05 @ DEN 117-107 — PHX notes
PHX won 117-107 in 1 overtime. PHX shot 44% (42 of 96) to DEN's 43%, 15 of 34 from three, and went to the line 22 times to DEN's 14 — 18 points from the stripe to their 10. PHX turned it over 9 times to DEN's 14. Durant led with 35 (14 of 34, 3 of 8 from three); Allen added 28, Beal 16. The hinge was Q2, 37-18: PHX came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 15, and the lead reached 22. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/07 vs TOR 120-113 — PHX notes
PHX won 120-113. PHX shot 51% (44 of 86) to TOR's 46%, 15 of 35 from three. PHX turned it over 14 times to TOR's 9. The glass went 49-36 for them. Durant led with 35 (11 of 19, 2 of 5 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Allen added 26, Beal 20. The hinge was Q1, 39-25: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
3/09 vs BOS 107-117 — PHX notes
PHX lost 107-117. PHX shot 51% (44 of 87) to BOS's 49%, 9 of 31 from three. Durant led with 45 (18 of 26, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Beal added 25, Bol 13. Q3 was theirs, 28-25, the deficit cut from 12 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 92-79 against them. Eubanks's -20 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/11 @ CLE 117-111 — PHX notes
PHX won 117-111. PHX shot 55% (46 of 84) to CLE's 48%, 12 of 32 from three. Durant led with 37 (14 of 26, 5 of 10 from three); Booker added 27, Beal 24. The hinge was Q3, 34-21: PHX came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 6. PHX trailed 63-70 at the half and won the second half 54-41. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/14 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 34 and Beal at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Okogie (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 10 and the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 113. Call it Boston 117, Phoenix 111.
3/15 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 15 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Miller at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 34 and Beal at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight), Okogie (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-7 a night and Charlotte minus-7 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 105 a night to Phoenix's 115. Call it Phoenix 112, Charlotte 111, Charlotte keeping it close.
3/17 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Middleton (16 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Okogie (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-9 a night and Milwaukee minus-4 and the line, where Milwaukee takes 24 free throws a game to Phoenix's 17. Call it Phoenix 116, Milwaukee 115, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/20 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Okogie (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 94 a night and allowing 96, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 16 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Embiid (22 straight), Harris (2 straight), Melton (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 96 a night to Phoenix's 118 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-6. Call it Phoenix 111, Philadelphia 109, Philadelphia keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DE D. Eubanks
DR D. Roddy
GA G. Allen
JN J. Nurkić
KD K. Durant
RO R. O'Neale
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DJ D. Jones
GN G. Niang
IM I. Mobley
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
SM S. Merrill
PHX/CLE the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Kevin Durant scores 37 points, rallying Suns to 117-111 victory over Cavaliers
CLEVELAND -- — Kevin Durant scored 37 points and Devin Booker had 27 in his return from a right ankle sprain, rallying the Phoenix Suns to a 117-111 victory over the injury-depleted Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.
Durant also had eight rebounds and six assists for the Suns, who are one game ahead of Sacramento for sixth place in the Western Conference. Booker had missed four games with his injury, but played 38 strong minutes and had seven assists and six boards.
“Book’s communication has been on-point, always, but his intangibles are what we missed the most,” Durant said. “It’s good to have him out there with his talent and I’m glad he was able to get his feet wet in a tight game, too.”
Phoenix trailed 63-44 midway through the second quarter, but answered with a 43-15 run that ended deep in the third. Booker later put the Suns ahead for good at 106-104 by scoring in transition with seven minutes remaining.
The Suns began a four-game trip that includes contests against East powers Boston and Milwaukee. Bradley Beal had 24 points, Grayson Allen scored 14, and Jusuf Nurkic added nine points and eight rebounds.
“We’ve got a chance to be elite with (Durant, Booker and Beal), so we’re grateful to have them all back,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said. “That type of game becomes a slugfest, but you could see the work Devin put in while he was out. He had a great performance.”
Darius Garland scored 30 points and Caris LeVert had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Cleveland trailed 113-111 with 51 seconds on the clock before Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro committed back-to-back turnovers to end its comeback hopes.
The Cavaliers, who are third in the East, were without shooting guard Donovan Mitchell for the seventh straight game because of left knee soreness. They also are missing starting forwards Evan Mobley (left ankle sprain) and Max Strus (right knee strain).
“We know we’re capable of winning those type of ballgames, regardless of who we have out there,” LeVert said. “After they threw a punch, I feel like we kept punching back, but they got hot and it was hard to stop them.”
Garland scored 21 points in the first quarter and had 25 in the opening half as the Cavaliers carried a 70-63 advantage into the break. Cleveland lost back-to-back home games, falling 120-101 to Brooklyn on Sunday.
As a result of missing his 18th game of the season, Mitchell is ineligible for All-NBA consideration. The five-time All-Star is the fifth-leading scorer in the league at 28.0 points per game and ranks third in steals.
“I don’t know if the number of games required is the right number,” Vogel said. “To see guys like Donovan and (76ers center Joel) Embiid left out, that does not feel right.”
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff agreed, saying, “Everyone knows that Donovan Mitchell is an All-NBA player and he’s had an All-NBA season.”