Game ID: 22400392
Utah Jazz @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, December 23, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 29 31 39 25 124UTA 27 29 32 25 113
CLE vs UTA ScoutingCLE vs UTA 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 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Okoro missed 2 since 12/07, returns tonight: 25 min (134% of 18)
BACK Wade back 12/03 after 6, 23 min since (110% of 20)
CLE availability going into 12/16 · 2 days' restBACK Wade back 12/03 after 6, 22 min since (107% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 12/13 after 2, 25 min since (134% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/20 · 3 days' restBACK Okoro back 12/13 after 2, 22 min since (119% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backBACK Okoro back 12/13 after 2, 22 min since (119% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 2 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 12/27 · 3 days' restOUT Okoro missed 3 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 12/30 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 4 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 12/31 · back-to-backOUT Okoro missed 5 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 6 since 12/20, out tonight
UTA availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Clarkson missed 7 since 11/26, returns tonight: 30 min (117% of 26)
OUT Hendricks missed 20 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 14 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Filipowski back 12/08 after 7, 10 min since (47% of 21)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 12/03 after 2, 15 min since (74% of 20)
UTA availability going into 12/16 · 2 days' restOUT Hendricks missed 21 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 6 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 15 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/13 after 7, 30 min since (117% of 26)
BACK Filipowski back 12/08 after 7, 12 min since (58% of 21)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 12/03 after 2, 15 min since (74% of 20)
UTA availability going into 12/19 · 2 days' restOUT Hendricks missed 22 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 11 min (61% of 19)
OUT Tshiebwe missed 7 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Eubanks missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 13 min (84% of 15)
OUT Mills missed 16 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/13 after 7, 27 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Filipowski back 12/08 after 7, 13 min since (62% of 21)
UTA availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 23 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 3 since 12/13, returns tonight: 20 min (100% of 20)
OUT Tshiebwe missed 8 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 17 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/13 after 7, 22 min since (87% of 26)
BACK Filipowski back 12/08 after 7, 13 min since (62% of 21)
BACK Potter back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (61% of 19)
BACK Eubanks back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (84% of 15)
UTA availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 24 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Filipowski missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 10 min (45% of 21)
OUT Tshiebwe missed 9 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 18 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/13 after 7, 25 min since (95% of 26)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 12/21 after 3, 20 min since (100% of 20)
BACK Potter back 12/19 after 2, 10 min since (54% of 19)
BACK Eubanks back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (71% of 15)
UTA availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT George missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 25 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 12 since 11/26, returns tonight: 25 min (118% of 21)
OUT Tshiebwe missed 10 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 19 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/13 after 7, 26 min since (101% of 26)
BACK Filipowski back 12/23 after 2, 10 min since (45% of 21)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 12/21 after 3, 23 min since (114% of 20)
BACK Potter back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (83% of 19)
BACK Eubanks back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (71% of 15)
NEW Collins 30 to 36 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 26 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 11 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 20 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Williams back 12/26 after 12, 25 min since (118% of 21)
BACK Filipowski back 12/23 after 2, 14 min since (64% of 21)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 12/21 after 3, 23 min since (117% of 20)
BACK Potter back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (83% of 19)
BACK Eubanks back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 15)
UTA availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT George missed 4 since 12/21, returns tonight: 28 min (90% of 32)
OUT Collins missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 27 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 12 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 21 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Williams back 12/26 after 12, 24 min since (114% of 21)
BACK Filipowski back 12/23 after 2, 12 min since (58% of 21)
BACK Mykhailiuk back 12/21 after 3, 23 min since (117% of 20)
BACK Potter back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (83% of 19)
BACK Eubanks back 12/19 after 2, 12 min since (79% of 15)
UTA availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Hendricks missed 28 since 10/29, out tonight
OUT Mykhailiuk missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 16 min (79% of 20)
OUT Tshiebwe missed 13 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 22 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK George back 12/30 after 4, 28 min since (90% of 32)
BACK Williams back 12/26 after 12, 22 min since (103% of 21)
BACK Filipowski back 12/23 after 2, 12 min since (55% of 21)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Mitchell at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Okoro (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 20 and Markkanen at 18 a game. Without Hendricks (24 straight), Williams (11 straight), Filipowski (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 106 a night to Utah's 126 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 20 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 124, Utah 108, Cleveland by 16.
12/13 vs WAS 115-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-105. CLE shot 40% (36 of 91) to WAS's 48%, 15 of 50 from three, and went to the line 40 times to WAS's 11 — 28 points from the stripe to their 9. CLE turned it over 11 times to WAS's 17. Garland led with 24 (6 of 17, 3 of 10 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Allen added 21, Mitchell 20. The hinge was Q3, 30-26: a lead of 3 became 7. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/16 @ BKN 130-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 130-101. CLE shot 53% (43 of 81) to BKN's 42%, 19 of 47 from three. Mobley led with 21 (7 of 9, 6 of 6 at the line); LeVert added 19, Mitchell 18. The hinge was Q1, 37-17: from level to 20 ahead, and the lead reached 37. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/20 vs MIL 124-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 124-101. CLE shot 51% (46 of 91) to MIL's 47%, 20 of 47 from three. CLE turned it over 15 times to MIL's 20. Mitchell led with 27 (9 of 15, 3 of 7 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Garland added 16, Mobley 15. The hinge was Q1, 29-20: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 36. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/21 vs PHI 126-99 — CLE notes
CLE won 126-99. CLE shot 53% (48 of 90) to PHI's 40%, 22 of 43 from three, and got to the line 15 times to PHI's 27. Garland led with 26 (9 of 11, 6 of 7 from three); Mobley added 22, Mitchell 19. The hinge was Q3, 33-21: a lead of 11 became 23, and the lead reached 35. LeVert was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
12/23 vs UTA 124-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 124-113. CLE shot 47% (43 of 91) to UTA's 41%, 20 of 46 from three. CLE turned it over 9 times to UTA's 16. The glass went 40-51 against them. Garland led with 23 (8 of 14, 3 of 6 from three); Mobley added 22, Mitchell 22. The hinge was Q3, 39-32: a lead of 4 became 11, and the lead reached 17. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/27 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (3 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Denver's 117 and the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Denver's 36. Call it Cleveland 118, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
12/30 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 25 and Kuminga at 24 a game. Without Payton II (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 45 percent from three to Golden State's 31. Call it Cleveland 117, Golden State 111.
12/31 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; James at 28 and Reaves at 21 a game. Without Hayes (14 straight), Vanderbilt (25 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 17 and the arc, Cleveland at 45 percent from three to the Lakers' 39. Call it Cleveland 116, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/03 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 30 and Dinwiddie at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Marshall (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-0 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the arc, Cleveland at 44 percent from three to Dallas's 38. Call it Cleveland 115, Dallas 112, Dallas keeping it close.
12/13 vs PHX 126-134 — UTA notes
UTA lost 126-134. UTA shot 56% (43 of 77) to PHX's 53%, 22 of 39 from three. UTA turned it over 15 times to PHX's 7, and PHX turned those into 10 steals. Clarkson led with 23 (8 of 13, 4 of 6 from three); Collins added 22, Markkanen 19. Q1 was theirs, 39-38, but the other 3 periods went 96-87 against them. Markkanen's -13 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/16 @ LAC 107-144 — UTA notes
UTA lost 107-144. UTA shot 45% (36 of 80) to LAC's 60%, 13 of 39 from three. UTA turned it over 22 times to LAC's 14, and LAC turned those into 13 steals. Clarkson led with 20 (6 of 13, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Markkanen added 17, Sexton 15. Q3 was theirs, 33-34, but the other 3 periods went 110-74 against them. George's -26 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 @ DET 126-119 — UTA notes
UTA won 126-119. UTA shot 47% (39 of 83) to DET's 44%, 20 of 40 from three, and went to the line 31 times to DET's 18 — 28 points from the stripe to their 14. UTA turned it over 27 times to DET's 10, and DET turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 62-39 for them. Sexton led with 30 (9 of 15, 5 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); George added 28, Markkanen 27. The hinge was Q1, 48-19: from level to 29 ahead. Markkanen was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/21 @ BKN 105-94 — UTA notes
UTA won 105-94. UTA shot 48% (41 of 86) to BKN's 40%, 14 of 41 from three. Markkanen led with 21 (8 of 21, 3 of 13 from three); Sexton added 18, Mykhailiuk 18. The hinge was Q2, 31-21: UTA came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 5, and the lead reached 20. Juzang was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/23 @ CLE 113-124 — UTA notes
UTA lost 113-124. UTA shot 41% (38 of 92) to CLE's 47%, 19 of 44 from three. UTA turned it over 16 times to CLE's 9, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 51-40 for them. Clarkson led with 27 (7 of 17, 3 of 5 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Markkanen added 26, Sexton 24. Q4 was theirs, 25-25, but the other 3 periods went 99-88 against them. Mykhailiuk's -16 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 16 free throws a game; Simons at 21 and Sharpe at 18 a game. Without Thybulle (29 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without George (2 straight), Hendricks (25 straight), Williams (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Utah at 43 percent from three to Portland's 32 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 20 times a game to Portland's 13. Call it Portland 116, Utah 115, Utah keeping it close.
12/28 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Sexton at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without George (3 straight), Collins (2 straight), Hendricks (26 straight). One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Maxey at 31 and Embiid at 23 a game. Without Edwards (10 straight), Gordon (2 straight), Council IV (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Philadelphia's 12 and the glass, where Utah has been plus-5 a night and Philadelphia minus-3. Call it Utah 114, Philadelphia 113, Philadelphia keeping it close.
12/30 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without George (4 straight), Collins (3 straight), Hendricks (27 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Murray at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-10 a night and Denver plus-4 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 19 times a game to Denver's 15. Call it Denver 118, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.
1/01 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and Towns at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Clarkson at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Collins (4 straight), Hendricks (28 straight), Mykhailiuk (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 12 and the arc, Utah at 39 percent from three to New York's 34. Call it New York 121, Utah 111, New York by 10.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
UTABS B. Sensabaugh
CS C. Sexton
IC I. Collier
JC J. Clarkson
JJ J. Juzang
KF K. Filipowski
LM L. Markkanen
MP M. Potter
SM S. Mykhailiuk
WK W. Kessler
CLE/UTA 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
Darius Garland scores 23 and NBA-best Cavaliers beat Jazz 124-113 for 17th home win in 18 games
CLEVELAND -- — Darius Garland scored 23 points and the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Utah Jazz 124-113 on Monday night for their 17th victory in 18 home games.
Evan Mobley had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Donovan Mitchell also scored 22 points, Sam Merrill scored a season-high 20 and Garland had eight assists for Cleveland. The Cavaliers (26-4) have won five straight by an average margin of 20 points.
Jordan Clarkson scored 27 points off the bench for the Jazz, while Lauri Markkanen had 26 and Collin Sexton had 24. Utah traded Mitchell to Cleveland in exchange for Markkanen, Sexton and multiple draft picks on Sept. 1, 2022.
The start of the game was delayed 35 minutes because of a broken rim that forced the replacement of one of the hoops and a stanchion.
Takeaways Jazz: Center Walker Kessler dominated the glass with 16 rebounds, eight of them offensive, but went 1 of 6 on free throws in the final four minutes as Cleveland intentionally sent him to the line. Kessler is shooting 53.6% from the stripe.
Cavaliers: Merrill made his second start of the season at small forward, draining six 3-pointers in 11 attempts. The Utah State product scored 14 points in the first eight minutes of the third, giving Cleveland its initial double-digit lead.
Key moment Georges Niang scored on a backdoor layup with 52 seconds left, then stripped the ball from Clarkson and fed Caris LeVert for a dunk on the other end to push Cleveland’s lead to 122-113.
Key stat Sexton, who spent his first four seasons with Cleveland, has the fifth-highest scoring average in Cavaliers history at 20.0 points, behind LeBron James (27.2), Mitchell (26.7), World B. Free (23.0) and Kyrie Irving (21.6).
Up next The Jazz wrap up their five-game trip Thursday at Portland. The Cavaliers play at Denver on Friday.