Game ID: 22400696
Dallas Mavericks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 50 41 28 25 144DAL 19 27 29 26 101
CLE vs DAL ScoutingCLE vs DAL 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 1/25 · 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)
CLE availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT LeVert missed 5 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 6 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 28 min since (93% of 31)
CLE availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT LeVert missed 6 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 3 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 7 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 29 min since (96% of 31)
NEW Jerome 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/02 · 2 days' restOUT LeVert missed 7 since 1/20, returns tonight: 23 min (98% of 24)
OUT Wade missed 4 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 8 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 29 min since (94% of 31)
NEW Jerome 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 5 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 9 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 23 min since (98% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 6 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 10 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (84% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 7 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 11 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restOUT Wade missed 8 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 12 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
DAL availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 2 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 26 min (97% of 27)
OUT Lively II missed 5 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Hardy missed 3 since 1/20, returns tonight: 16 min (97% of 16)
OUT Powell missed 3 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Edwards back 1/20 after 9, 16 min since (103% of 15)
BACK Williams back 1/22 after 2, 9 min since (59% of 15)
NEW Dinwiddie 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Gafford 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 11 to 17 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 3 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 6 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 4 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 26 min since (97% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 16 min since (97% of 16)
BACK Edwards back 1/20 after 9, 15 min since (98% of 15)
BACK Williams back 1/22 after 2, 6 min since (43% of 15)
NEW Gafford 22 to 29 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 4 since 1/22, returns tonight: 15 min (54% of 28)
OUT Lively II missed 7 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 5 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 14 min since (91% of 16)
BACK Edwards back 1/20 after 9, 17 min since (109% of 15)
BACK Williams back 1/22 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Gafford 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 11 to 19 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 8 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 6 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 15 min since (54% of 28)
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 12 min since (74% of 16)
BACK Williams back 1/22 after 2, 7 min since (45% of 15)
NEW Gafford 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Prosper 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 9 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 2 since 1/29, returns tonight: 18 min (124% of 15)
OUT Powell missed 7 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 19 min since (67% of 28)
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 11 min since (67% of 16)
NEW Gafford 22 to 29 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 10 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 8 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 20 min since (71% of 28)
BACK Thompson back 1/25 after 2, 25 min since (90% of 27)
BACK Hardy back 1/25 after 3, 14 min since (87% of 16)
BACK Williams back 2/02 after 2, 18 min since (124% of 15)
NEW Gafford 22 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Washington missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 11 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 9 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 21 min since (76% of 28)
BACK Williams back 2/02 after 2, 18 min since (124% of 15)
NEW Gafford 22 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 11 to 19 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Washington missed 3 since 2/02, returns tonight: 16 min (50% of 32)
OUT Lively II missed 12 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Hardy missed 2 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 2 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 10 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/29 after 4, 23 min since (81% of 28)
NEW Gafford 22 to 33 min over the last 4
NEW Prosper 11 to 17 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 13 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Hardy missed 3 since 2/04, returns tonight: 9 min (57% of 16)
OUT Williams missed 3 since 2/04, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 11 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Washington back 2/08 after 3, 16 min since (50% of 32)
NEW Gafford 22 to 31 min over the last 4
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 127 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Garland at 28 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without LeVert (7 straight), Wade (4 straight), Okoro (8 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 22 and Washington at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Lively II (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 11 and the arc, Dallas at 42 percent from three to Cleveland's 37. Call it Cleveland 122, Dallas 114.
1/25 vs HOU 131-135 — CLE notes
CLE lost 131-135. CLE took 9 more shots (91 to 82), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 52% to HOU's 55%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 26 times to HOU's 45. Garland led with 39 (14 of 22, 4 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Mitchell added 33, Niang 21. Q4 was theirs, 47-34, the deficit cut from 17 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 101-84 against them. Merrill's -16 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 vs DET 110-91 — CLE notes
CLE won 110-91. CLE shot 44% (40 of 91) to DET's 39%, 12 of 44 from three, and went to the line 23 times to DET's 11 — 18 points from the stripe to their 7. Garland led with 22 (8 of 19, 3 of 11 from three); Mitchell added 21, Allen 15. The hinge was Q2, 29-22: a lead of 3 became 10, and the lead reached 22. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/29 @ MIA 126-106 — CLE notes
CLE won 126-106. CLE shot 54% (54 of 100) to MIA's 47%, 13 of 42 from three, and got to the line 6 times to MIA's 15. CLE turned it over 7 times to MIA's 12. The glass went 47-35 for them. Mitchell led with 34 (14 of 23, 5 of 11 from three); Mobley added 22, Jerome 20. The hinge was Q1, 31-21: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/30 vs ATL 137-115 — CLE notes
CLE won 137-115. CLE shot 58% (53 of 91) to ATL's 46%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 20 times to ATL's 27. The glass went 49-36 for them. Garland led with 26 (11 of 20, 2 of 6 from three); Mitchell added 24, Jerome 20. The hinge was Q3, 39-21: a lead of 8 became 26, and the lead reached 29. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/02 vs DAL 144-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 144-101. CLE shot 57% (53 of 93) to DAL's 39%, 26 of 45 from three. Merrill led with 27 (9 of 14, 9 of 13 from three); Mobley added 22, Garland 17. The hinge was Q1, 50-19: from level to 31 ahead, and the lead reached 53. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +47.
2/04 vs BOS — 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 130 a night and allowing 110, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 26 and Mitchell at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (5 straight), Okoro (9 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Tatum at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and Boston minus-4. Call it Cleveland 119, Boston 113.
2/05 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 29 and Beasley at 17 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Garland at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (6 straight), Okoro (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Detroit's 119 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and Detroit plus-0. Call it Cleveland 117, Detroit 114, Detroit keeping it close.
2/07 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 21 and Kispert at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Sarr (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Wade (7 straight), Okoro (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 39 percent from three to Washington's 33 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-6 a night and Washington plus-1. Call it Cleveland 119, Washington 110.
2/10 vs MIN — 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 128 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Wade (8 straight), Okoro (12 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 37 and McDaniels at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Randle (5 straight), DiVincenzo (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Minnesota's 36. Call it Cleveland 118, Minnesota 112.
1/25 vs BOS 107-122 — DAL notes
DAL lost 107-122. DAL shot 44% (39 of 88) to BOS's 43%, 8 of 22 from three, and went to the line 28 times to BOS's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. DAL turned it over 12 times to BOS's 5. Irving led with 22 (11 of 23, 0 of 3 from three); Grimes added 20, Gafford 19. Q4 was theirs, 31-26, the deficit cut from 20 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 96-76 against them. They led by as many as 10. Grimes's -20 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 vs WAS 130-108 — DAL notes
DAL won 130-108. DAL shot 53% (49 of 92) to WAS's 42%, 20 of 45 from three. Thompson led with 23 (8 of 15, 7 of 12 from three); Prosper added 20, Washington 19. The hinge was Q1, 42-16: from level to 26 ahead, and the lead reached 38. Dinwiddie was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
1/29 @ NOP 137-136 — DAL notes
DAL won 137-136. DAL shot 54% (52 of 96) to NOP's 53%, 20 of 43 from three. DAL turned it over 18 times to NOP's 8, and NOP turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 51-36 for them. Irving led with 25 (10 of 21, 3 of 9 from three); Washington added 25, Gafford 22. The hinge was Q3, 40-30: DAL came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 4. DAL trailed 57-63 at the half and won the second half 80-73.
1/31 @ DET 102-117 — DAL notes
DAL lost 102-117. DAL shot 43% (37 of 87) to DET's 44%, 11 of 33 from three. DAL turned it over 16 times to DET's 6, and DET turned those into 13 steals. Irving led with 28 (9 of 23, 3 of 10 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Washington added 22, Gafford 16. Q1 was theirs, 32-28, but the other 3 periods went 89-70 against them. They led by as many as 11. Irving's -14 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/02 @ CLE 101-144 — DAL notes
DAL lost 101-144. DAL took 10 more shots (103 to 93), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to CLE's 57%, 9 of 43 from three. Hardy led with 21 (8 of 19, 3 of 12 from three); Exum added 14, Kelley 12. Q3 was theirs, 29-28, the deficit cut from 45 to 44, but the other 3 periods went 116-72 against them. Exum's -35 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Maxey at 36 and Oubre Jr. at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without George (4 straight), Embiid (15 straight), Drummond (6 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 22 and Washington at 21 a game. Without Lively II (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 112 a night to Dallas's 125 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-4. Call it Philadelphia 118, Dallas 112.
2/06 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 25 and Washington at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Washington (2 straight), Lively II (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Dallas's 125 and the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and Boston minus-4. Call it Boston 119, Dallas 111.
2/08 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 26 and Gafford at 14 a game. Without Washington (3 straight), Lively II (12 straight), Hardy (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Brooks at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without VanVleet (3 straight), Smith Jr. (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 116 a night to Dallas's 127. Call it Dallas 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
2/10 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Christie at 18 a game. Without Lively II (13 straight), Hardy (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; DeRozan at 20 and LaVine at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 118, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
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
TT T. Thompson
DALBW B. Williams
DE D. Exum
JH J. Hardy
KE K. Edwards
KK K. Kelley
KT K. Thompson
NM N. Marshall
OP O. Prosper
QG Q. Grimes
SD S. Dinwiddie
CLE/DAL 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
Evan Mobley scores 22, Cavaliers make 26 3s in 144-101 romp over Mavericks following Doncic trade
CLEVELAND -- — Evan Mobley scored 22 points and Cleveland set a franchise record with 91 in the first half as the Cavaliers romped to a 144-101 win on Sunday over Dallas just hours after the Mavericks traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis .
Darius Garland added 17 points and 10 assists as the Cavs improved the league's best record to 40-9.
Sam Merrill made nine 3-pointers and Cleveland set a franchise record with 26 3s.
Hoping to return to the Finals, the Mavericks dealt the 25-year-old Doncic, a five-time All-Star and the face of their franchise to Los Angeles for Davis, one of the league's most talented two-way players.
Davis will join forces in Dallas with All-Star guard Kyrie Irving , who has plenty of experience playing with other superstars after stints alongside LeBron James , Kevin Durant , James Harden and Doncic.
Unfortunately, Irving wasn't available because of injury and the Cavs blitzed the Mavericks from the start. Cleveland scored a franchise record 50 points in the first quarter and opened a 45-point halftime lead.
Their 91 points tied for the third-most in a first half in league history.
Jaden Hardy paced Dallas with 21 points.
Takeaways Mavericks: Dallas only had 10 players in uniform as Irving (shoulder), forward P.J. Washington Jr. (knee) and centers Daniel Gafford (ankle), Dereck Lively II (ankle) and Dwight Powell (hip) all sat out with injuries.
Cavaliers: An easy afternoon to tune up for Tuesday night's matchup against Boston.
Key moment Garland made three 3-pointers in a span of 66 seconds as the Cavs opened an early 27-9 lead.
Key stat The Cavs have made at least 10 3-pointers in 54 straight games, tying Portland for the fourth longest streak. The Houston Rockets hold the record with 97 consecutive games with 10 3s or more.
Up Next The Mavericks are in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Cavs host the defending champion Celtics, who ended Cleveland's 15-game winning streak to start the season.