Game ID: 22400603
Phoenix Suns @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, January 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 27 32 34 25 118PHX 27 19 24 22 92
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 1/12 · 2 days' restBACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 13 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 10 min since (55% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restBACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 12 min since (62% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 13 min since (70% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Jerome missed 2 since 1/12, returns tonight: 16 min (81% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 12 min since (62% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 11 min since (61% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restBACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (81% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 12 min since (61% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 14 min since (74% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restBACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 19 min since (95% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 11 min since (56% of 20)
CLE availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 19 min since (97% of 20)
CLE availability going into 1/24 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 3 since 1/18, out tonight
OUT LeVert missed 2 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 3 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 21 min since (103% of 20)
CLE availability going into 1/25 · back-to-backOUT Mobley missed 4 since 1/18, returns tonight: 29 min (94% of 31)
OUT LeVert missed 3 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 4 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Jerome back 1/16 after 2, 23 min since (116% of 20)
CLE availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT LeVert missed 4 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 5 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 29 min since (94% of 31)
PHX availability going into 1/12 · back-to-backOUT O'Neale missed 6 since 12/31, returns tonight: 22 min (88% of 24)
OUT Nurkić missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 34 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 4 since 1/06, out tonight
BACK Allen back 1/04 after 5, 26 min since (106% of 24)
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 3 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 35 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 5 since 1/06, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 22 min since (88% of 24)
PHX availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 4 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 36 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 1/12, not on tonight's roster
OUT Morris missed 2 since 1/12, returns tonight: 15 min (120% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 6 since 1/06, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 12)
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 19 min since (78% of 24)
PHX availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 5 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 37 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 20 min since (81% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (120% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 24 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 1/16, returns tonight: 25 min (77% of 32)
OUT Nurkić missed 6 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 38 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 19 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 7 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 39 since 10/28, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 14)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK O'Neale back 1/12 after 6, 20 min since (80% of 24)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 10 min since (77% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (48% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Nurkić missed 8 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 9 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
PHX availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 10 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 17)
OUT Gillespie missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 14)
OUT Morris missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 32)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Garland at 27 and Mitchell at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 28 free throws a game; Booker at 34 and Durant at 28 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Beal (2 straight), Nurkić (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-7 and the arc, Phoenix at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 34. Call it Cleveland 119, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/12 vs IND 93-108 — CLE notes
CLE lost 93-108. CLE shot 40% (33 of 83) to IND's 47%, 11 of 41 from three. Garland led with 20 (7 of 16, 3 of 9 from three); Mitchell added 19, Mobley 16. Q2 was theirs, 34-19, turning a 2-point deficit into a 13-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-59 against them. They led by as many as 15. Strus's -23 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/14 @ IND 127-117 — CLE notes
CLE won 127-117. CLE shot 48% (43 of 89) to IND's 48%, 15 of 44 from three, and went to the line 31 times to IND's 22 — 26 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 49-37 for them. Mitchell led with 35 (12 of 23, 3 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Garland added 24, Mobley 22. The hinge was Q3, 38-28: a lead of 1 became 11, and the lead reached 15. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/16 @ OKC 114-134 — CLE notes
CLE lost 114-134. CLE shot 47% (42 of 90) to OKC's 50%, 13 of 42 from three, and went to the line 21 times to OKC's 11 — 17 points from the stripe to their 10. CLE turned it over 21 times to OKC's 6, and OKC turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 49-39 for them. Garland led with 20 (7 of 10, 1 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Allen added 13, Jerome 12. Q4 was theirs, 33-15, the deficit cut from 38 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 119-81 against them. Strus's -30 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/18 @ MIN 124-117 — CLE notes
CLE won 124-117. CLE shot 46% (42 of 92) to MIN's 48%, 17 of 48 from three, and went to the line 25 times to MIN's 19 — 23 points from the stripe to their 16. Mitchell led with 36 (12 of 27, 4 of 15 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Garland added 29, Niang 15. The hinge was Q3, 29-19: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Jerome was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
1/20 vs PHX 118-92 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-92. CLE shot 43% (41 of 95) to PHX's 47%, 19 of 46 from three, and went to the line 23 times to PHX's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 10. CLE turned it over 8 times to PHX's 17. The glass went 50-34 for them. Mitchell led with 33 (11 of 25, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Garland added 16, Allen 12. The hinge was Q2, 32-19: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
1/22 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Green at 30 and Sengun at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Smith Jr. (9 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Mobley (2 straight), Okoro (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 34. Call it Houston 116, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/24 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Maxey at 32 and Yabusele at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without C. Martin (6 straight), Embiid (9 straight), Lowry (9 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Mobley (3 straight), LeVert (2 straight), Okoro (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-13 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Philadelphia's 125. Call it Cleveland 118, Philadelphia 112.
1/25 vs HOU — 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 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 23 a game. Without Mobley (4 straight), LeVert (3 straight), Okoro (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Smith Jr. (10 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 116, Houston 115, Houston keeping it close.
1/27 vs DET — 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 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Garland at 27 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without LeVert (4 straight), Okoro (5 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 27 and Duren at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 17 times a game to Cleveland's 11 and the arc, Cleveland at 40 percent from three to Detroit's 32. Call it Cleveland 118, Detroit 112.
1/12 vs CHA 120-113 — PHX notes
PHX won 120-113. PHX shot 48% (42 of 87) to CHA's 45%, 17 of 41 from three. The glass went 39-52 against them. Booker led with 30 (10 of 20, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Durant added 27, Beal 15. The hinge was Q4, 27-15: PHX came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 7. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
1/14 @ ATL 117-122 — PHX notes
PHX lost 117-122. PHX shot 51% (43 of 84) to ATL's 44%, 13 of 35 from three. The glass went 37-54 against them. Booker led with 35 (12 of 23, 7 of 14 from three); Durant added 31, Dunn 14. Q3 was theirs, 31-25, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 97-86 against them. O'Neale's -22 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 @ WAS 130-123 — PHX notes
PHX won 130-123. PHX shot 52% (44 of 85) to WAS's 50%, 16 of 33 from three. Booker led with 37 (10 of 24, 4 of 9 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Durant added 23, Allen 21. The hinge was Q1, 34-21: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/18 @ DET 125-121 — PHX notes
PHX won 125-121. PHX shot 50% (43 of 86) to DET's 47%, 7 of 25 from three. Durant led with 36 (13 of 27, 2 of 8 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Booker added 35, Richards 21. The hinge was Q3, 37-35: a lead of 1 became 3. Richards was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/20 @ CLE 92-118 — PHX notes
PHX lost 92-118. PHX shot 47% (36 of 77) to CLE's 43%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 23. PHX turned it over 17 times to CLE's 8, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 34-50 against them. Durant led with 23 (9 of 16); Booker added 15, Jones 13. Q1 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 91-65 against them. Richards's -26 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 18 and Russell at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Thomas (10 straight), Simmons (2 straight), Watford (18 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 28 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nurkić (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-3 a night and Phoenix minus-7 and the line, where Phoenix takes 27 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 19. Call it Phoenix 114, Brooklyn 110, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/25 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 31 and Durant at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Nurkić (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 119, shooting 40 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Coulibaly at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Brogdon (10 straight), Holmes (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 38 percent from three to Washington's 31. Call it Phoenix 118, Washington 109.
1/27 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 27 a game. Without Nurkić (9 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 18 free throws a game; Powell at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Dunn (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 18 and the arc, Phoenix at 36 percent from three to the Clippers' 31. Call it Phoenix 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/29 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Nurkić (10 straight), Ighodaro (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Reid at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without DiVincenzo (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Phoenix 112, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EB E. Bates
GN G. Niang
JA J. Allen
JT J. Thor
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
DB D. Booker
DL D. Lee
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MM M. Morris
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
CLE/PHX 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
Donovan Mitchell scores 33 points and propels NBA-leading Cavaliers to easy 118-92 win over Suns
CLEVELAND -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points — 23 in the second half — and Darius Garland added 16 as the Cleveland Cavaliers began the season's unofficial second half by dominating the Phoenix Suns 118-92 in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee on Monday.
The Cavs, who opened the season with 15 straight wins, improved the NBA's best record to 36-6 — tied for the eighth-best start in history. They're also 21-2 at home and 13-1 against Western Conference teams.
Cleveland had little trouble handling the Suns despite missing three rotational players as forwards Evan Mobley (calf), Isaac Okoro (shoulder) and guard Caris LeVert (wrist) sat out with injuries.
Kevin Durant scored 23 to lead Phoenix, which had won five of six. Devin Booker added 15 — 10 below his average — and had six turnovers.
Suns guard Bradley Beal returned after missing the last two games with left ankle sprain and scored just five points in 25 minutes.
Takeaways Suns: Booker never got going offensively and failed to reach 30 points for the first time in six games.
Cavaliers: Without Mobley, Cleveland was missing 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and his defensive presence. It put stress on Cleveland's front line, but Jarrett Allen scored 12 and backup Tristan Thompson gave coach Kenny Atkinson a season-high 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Key moment With the Suns making a push in the third, Mitchell made consecutive 3-pointers in the final 36 seconds to give Cleveland a 93-70 lead.
Key stat Garland’s first 3-pointer was the 803rd of his career, moving him past Mark Price (802) on the Cavs' all-time list. Only LeBron James (1,251) and Kevin Love (1,096) made more in Cleveland history.
Up next The Suns visit Brooklyn on Wednesday, while the Cavaliers play in Houston that night. Cleveland is traveling a day early to get ahead of a winter storm forecast to hit Texas.