Game ID: 22400797
New York Knicks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 41 36 33 32 142NYK 29 21 29 26 105
CLE vs NYK ScoutingCLE vs NYK 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 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)
CLE availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 9 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 13 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
NEW Merrill 20 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Wade missed 10 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 14 since 1/18, returns tonight: 17 min (91% of 18)
NEW Merrill 20 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 11 since 1/25, returns tonight: 15 min (72% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 17 min since (91% of 18)
NEW Merrill 20 to 27 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 15 min since (72% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 18 min since (95% of 18)
CLE availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 16 min since (79% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 18 min since (98% of 18)
CLE availability going into 2/28 · 2 days' restOUT Garland missed 2 since 2/23, returns tonight: 32 min (103% of 31)
BACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 17 min since (84% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 19 min since (105% of 18)
CLE availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restBACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 32 min since (103% of 31)
BACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 18 min since (86% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 18 min since (97% of 18)
NYK availability going into 2/08 · 3 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/11 · 2 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 3 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 32 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/12 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 4 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 33 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 5 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 2 since 2/11, returns tonight: 0 min (4% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 36 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 6 since 2/03, returns tonight: 27 min (72% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 0 min since (4% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 38 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 40 min (108% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 27 min since (72% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 37 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/26 · 2 days' restBACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 40 min since (108% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 31 min since (84% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 33 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 2 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 39 min since (105% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 35 min since (94% of 37)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 32 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 3 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 36 min since (96% of 37)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 25 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Brunson at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Anunoby (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to New York's 124 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and New York minus-1. Call it Cleveland 122, New York 115.
2/07 @ WAS 134-124 — CLE notes
CLE won 134-124. CLE shot 51% (48 of 94) to WAS's 49%, 16 of 38 from three. Mitchell led with 33 (12 of 26, 4 of 11 from three); Mobley added 27, Garland 23. The hinge was Q4, 40-31: a lead of 1 became 10, and the lead reached 16. CLE trailed 64-67 at the half and won the second half 70-57. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/10 vs MIN 128-107 — CLE notes
CLE won 128-107. CLE shot 51% (48 of 94) to MIN's 40%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MIN's 30. Mobley led with 28 (12 of 19, 1 of 4 from three); Mitchell added 23, Garland 17. The hinge was Q1, 30-12: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/12 @ TOR 131-108 — CLE notes
CLE won 131-108. CLE shot 48% (48 of 99) to TOR's 46%, 18 of 53 from three. The glass went 53-39 for them. Mitchell led with 21 (6 of 16, 2 of 9 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Hunter added 18, Merrill 16. The hinge was Q1, 41-17: from level to 24 ahead, and the lead reached 39. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
2/20 @ BKN 110-97 — CLE notes
CLE won 110-97. CLE shot 43% (40 of 94) to BKN's 40%, 11 of 39 from three, and went to the line 27 times to BKN's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 11. Mitchell led with 26 (8 of 21, 3 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Mobley added 18, Garland 18. The hinge was Q3, 35-27: CLE came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 21. CLE trailed 48-50 at the half and won the second half 62-47. Merrill was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/21 vs NYK 142-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 142-105. CLE shot 61% (56 of 92) to NYK's 47%, 19 of 37 from three. The glass went 47-32 for them. Mitchell led with 27 (10 of 15, 5 of 7 from three); Mobley added 21, Jerome 19. The hinge was Q2, 36-21: a lead of 12 became 27, and the lead reached 42. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/23 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bane at 20 and Morant at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-10 a night and Memphis plus-0 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 108 a night to Memphis's 119. Call it Cleveland 123, Memphis 112, Cleveland by 11.
2/25 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 100, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Wagner at 25 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-13 a night and Orlando plus-3 and the defense, Orlando allowing 100 a night to Cleveland's 108. Call it Cleveland 113, Orlando 109, Orlando keeping it close.
2/28 @ 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 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 14 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Brown at 23 a game. Without Kornet (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Garland (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-14 a night and Boston plus-2 and the line, where Cleveland takes 23 free throws a game to Boston's 14. Call it Cleveland 115, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
3/02 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sharpe at 21 and Simons at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Ayton (6 straight), Thybulle (60 straight), Williams III (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-12 a night and Portland plus-1 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 118, Portland 111.
2/08 vs BOS 104-131 — NYK notes
NYK lost 104-131. NYK shot 42% (35 of 83) to BOS's 54%, 9 of 24 from three. The glass went 30-48 against them. Brunson led with 36 (10 of 18, 3 of 7 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Hart added 17, Payne 14. Q2 was theirs, 29-31, but the other 3 periods went 100-75 against them. Achiuwa's -37 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/11 @ IND 128-115 — NYK notes
NYK won 128-115. NYK shot 54% (49 of 91) to IND's 48%, 10 of 27 from three. The glass went 48-36 for them. Towns led with 40 (14 of 23, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Hart added 30, McBride 15. The hinge was Q2, 41-34: a lead of 1 became 8, and the lead reached 21. McBride was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/12 vs ATL 149-148 — NYK notes
NYK won 149-148 in 1 overtime. NYK shot 57% (54 of 94) to ATL's 50%, 11 of 26 from three. NYK turned it over 17 times to ATL's 12, and ATL turned those into 12 steals. Towns led with 44 (14 of 25, 7 of 10 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Brunson added 36, Achiuwa 26. The hinge was Q1, 38-29: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
2/20 vs CHI 113-111 — NYK notes
NYK won 113-111 in 1 overtime. NYK shot 43% (46 of 107) to CHI's 40%, 14 of 46 from three. Towns led with 32 (14 of 30, 2 of 10 from three); McBride added 23, Brunson 22. The hinge was Q2, 31-22: NYK came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 7.
2/21 @ CLE 105-142 — NYK notes
NYK lost 105-142. NYK shot 47% (42 of 89) to CLE's 61%, 10 of 28 from three. The glass went 32-47 against them. Brunson led with 26 (10 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); Towns added 23, Bridges 14. Q3 was theirs, 29-33, but the other 3 periods went 109-76 against them. Achiuwa's -25 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ 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 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 129, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Brunson at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Hart (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to New York's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and New York minus-6. Call it Boston 121, New York 111, Boston by 10.
2/26 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 127, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Towns at 33 and Brunson at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 24 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 19 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Edwards (3 straight), Okeke (6 straight), Lowry (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 36 percent from three to Philadelphia's 24 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to New York's 127. Call it New York 118, Philadelphia 112.
2/28 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 21 and Jackson Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 31 and Brunson at 28 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Memphis 122, New York 118, New York keeping it close.
3/02 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Wiggins at 21 a game. Without Jović (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-2 a night and New York minus-8 and the defense, Miami allowing 112 a night to New York's 118. Call it Miami 115, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKAH A. Hukporti
CP C. Payne
DW D. Wright
JB J. Brunson
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
MR M. Ryan
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
PD P. Dadiet
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
NT N. Tomlin
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
NYK/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
Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley power East-leading Cavaliers to 142-105 blowout of Knicks
CLEVELAND -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points, Evan Mobley added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers bullied the New York Knicks from the start Friday night, winning 142-105 in a matchup of two of the Eastern Conference's top teams.
Only the Cavs looked elite, winning their sixth straight and improving the NBA's best record to 46-10. Cleveland has won 34 games by double digits.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Karl-Anthony Towns 23 for the Knicks, who beat Chicago in overtime on Thursday in their first game back from the All-Star break.
New York couldn't use a back-to-back as any excuse as the Cavs won in Brooklyn a night earlier. It was the Knicks' most-lopsided loss this season.
Cleveland got a scare in the first half when All-Star guard Darius Garland hit his head on the floor while taking an awkward fall. Garland, who missed significant time last season with a broken jaw, stayed in the game.
The Cavs played most of the second half without center Jarrett Allen , who injured his right hand. X-rays were negative. Coach Kenny Atkinson said Allen will undergo an MRI on Saturday.
Takeaways Knicks: New York was without versatile swingman Josh Hart , who missed his second straight game with a sore right knee.
Cavaliers: Dean Wade 's return from injury makes Cleveland as healthy as it has been in months. Wade gives Atkinson defensive depth and versatility.
Key moment Mitchell went on a tear late in the first half, dropping three 3-pointers in final 1:43 as Cleveland opened a 27-point halftime lead.
Key stat Mitchell loves facing the Knicks. He came in averaging 30.7 points. 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his previous nine regular-season games against them.
Up next It's a big weekend for both teams as the Knicks are in Boston on Sunday. The Cavs host the top-scoring Memphis Grizzlies that night.