Game ID: 22400867
Portland Trail Blazers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
CLE 24 18 37 40 14 133POR 27 27 35 30 10 129
CLE vs POR ScoutingCLE vs POR 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 2/21 · 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)
CLE availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 35 min since (115% of 31)
BACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 18 min since (89% of 20)
CLE availability going into 3/05 · back-to-backOUT Tomlin missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 34 min since (110% of 31)
CLE availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 4 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 33 min since (108% of 31)
NEW Jerome 20 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 5 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 33 min since (107% of 31)
POR availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 56 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Reath missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 11 min (104% of 10)
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 30 min since (94% of 32)
BACK Williams III back 2/20 after 2, 25 min since (144% of 18)
BACK Walker back 2/10 after 2, 17 min since (135% of 12)
POR availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 57 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Williams III back 2/20 after 2, 25 min since (144% of 18)
BACK Walker back 2/10 after 2, 20 min since (160% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/10 after 2, 7 min since (73% of 10)
POR availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 58 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 2 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (100% of 32)
BACK Walker back 2/10 after 2, 18 min since (148% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/10 after 2, 7 min since (73% of 10)
POR availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 59 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 3 since 2/22, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 5 since 2/12, returns tonight: 4 min (33% of 12)
OUT Reath missed 2 since 2/24, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 10)
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
NEW Walker 12 to 19 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 60 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 4 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Grant back 2/20 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 4 min since (33% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/22 after 2, 7 min since (66% of 10)
NEW Walker 12 to 19 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 3/03 · back-to-backOUT Grant missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 61 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 5 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 4 min since (33% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (111% of 10)
POR availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 62 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 6 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 3 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/28 after 2, 14 min since (136% of 10)
POR availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Grant missed 4 since 2/28, returns tonight: 24 min (74% of 32)
OUT Ayton missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 63 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 7 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 3 min since (21% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/28 after 2, 13 min since (124% of 10)
NEW Sharpe 31 to 37 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 64 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 8 since 2/22, out tonight
BACK Grant back 3/07 after 4, 24 min since (74% of 32)
BACK Cissoko back 2/28 after 5, 2 min since (18% of 12)
BACK Reath back 2/28 after 2, 14 min since (139% of 10)
NEW Sharpe 31 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Walker 12 to 18 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 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.
2/21 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 129-123 — CLE notes
CLE won 129-123. CLE shot 46% (46 of 99) to MEM's 46%, 13 of 47 from three. The glass went 57-37 for them. Mitchell led with 33 (11 of 23, 4 of 8 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Jerome added 26, Mobley 25. The hinge was Q1, 33-29: from level to 4 ahead. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
2/25 @ ORL 122-82 — CLE notes
CLE won 122-82. CLE shot 56% (45 of 80) to ORL's 37%, 19 of 32 from three. The glass went 47-35 for them. Jerome led with 20 (7 of 12, 4 of 6 from three); Mobley added 17, Hunter 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-16: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 42. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/28 @ BOS 123-116 — CLE notes
CLE won 123-116. CLE shot 48% (45 of 94) to BOS's 48%, 17 of 39 from three. Mitchell led with 41 (13 of 26, 5 of 12 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Garland added 20, Mobley 17. The hinge was Q4, 28-18: CLE came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 7. CLE trailed 64-74 at the half and won the second half 59-42. Jerome was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
3/02 vs POR 133-129 — CLE notes
CLE won 133-129 in 1 overtime. CLE shot 43% (42 of 97) to POR's 44%, 19 of 46 from three. CLE turned it over 13 times to POR's 19. Hunter led with 32 (8 of 15, 5 of 9 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Jerome added 25, Mobley 20. The hinge was Q4, 40-30: CLE came in trailing by 10 and left it level. CLE trailed 42-54 at the half and won the second half 91-75. Merrill was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/04 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Giddey at 21 and White at 21 a game. Without Vučević (4 straight), Williams (6 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-10 a night and Chicago minus-2 and the arc, Cleveland at 43 percent from three to Chicago's 36. Call it Cleveland 121, Chicago 117, Chicago keeping it close.
3/05 vs MIA — 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 113, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Herro at 20 and Adebayo at 20 a game. Without Wiggins (3 straight), Jović (5 straight), Jaquez Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Miami minus-0 and the line, where Cleveland takes 28 free throws a game to Miami's 19. Call it Cleveland 118, Miami 111.
3/07 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 118, shooting 41 percent and 29 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ball at 24 and Bridges at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Gra. Williams (45 straight), Simpson (3 straight), Okogie (16 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 42 percent from three to Charlotte's 29 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 17 times a game to Cleveland's 10. Call it Cleveland 119, Charlotte 108, Cleveland by 11.
3/09 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 30 and Lillard at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Trent Jr. (2 straight), Portis (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 32 free throws a game; Mitchell at 30 and Mobley at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-9 a night and Cleveland plus-3 and the line, where Cleveland takes 32 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 26. Call it Milwaukee 119, Cleveland 118, Cleveland keeping it close.
2/22 vs CHA 141-88 — POR notes
POR won 141-88. POR shot 59% (51 of 87) to CHA's 35%, 20 of 43 from three, and went to the line 27 times to CHA's 21 — 19 points from the stripe to their 15. The glass went 57-37 for them. Simons led with 25 (8 of 16, 5 of 10 from three); Camara added 20, Walker 20. The hinge was Q1, 38-21: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 55. Camara was the night's best plus/minus at +45.
2/24 @ UTA 114-112 — POR notes
POR won 114-112. POR shot 42% (41 of 98) to UTA's 40%, 14 of 44 from three. Simons led with 28 (10 of 23, 3 of 13 from three); Grant added 20, Avdija 18. The hinge was Q2, 29-18: POR came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 10.
2/26 @ WAS 129-121 — POR notes
POR won 129-121. POR shot 45% (45 of 101) to WAS's 52%, 12 of 37 from three. Sharpe led with 36 (13 of 26, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Simons added 16, Henderson 16. The hinge was Q1, 34-27: from level to 7 ahead. Henderson was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/28 @ BKN 121-102 — POR notes
POR won 121-102. POR shot 58% (45 of 78) to BKN's 41%, 15 of 36 from three. Sharpe led with 25 (9 of 14, 4 of 6 from three); Banton added 23, Camara 19. The hinge was Q4, 30-20: a lead of 9 became 19, and the lead reached 26. Camara was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/02 @ CLE 129-133 — POR notes
POR lost 129-133 in 1 overtime. POR shot 44% (42 of 96) to CLE's 43%, 14 of 40 from three. POR turned it over 19 times to CLE's 13, and CLE turned those into 12 steals. Avdija led with 30 (8 of 13, 1 of 3 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Simons added 27, Camara 19. Q2 was theirs, 27-18, but the other 4 periods went 115-102 against them. They led by as many as 18. Murray's -15 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Oubre Jr. at 19 and Maxey at 19 a game. Without Okeke (8 straight), Butler (2 straight), Lowry (7 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 30 free throws a game; Sharpe at 22 and Simons at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Grant (2 straight), Ayton (7 straight), Thybulle (61 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and Philadelphia minus-3 and the arc, Portland at 38 percent from three to Philadelphia's 31. Call it Portland 116, Philadelphia 113, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/05 @ 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 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 27 and Tatum at 27 a game. Without Holiday (2 straight), Porziņģis (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Simons at 24 and Sharpe at 22 a game. Without Grant (3 straight), Ayton (8 straight), Thybulle (62 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 28 free throws a game to Boston's 16 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-4 a night and Boston minus-2. Call it Boston 115, Portland 112, Portland keeping it close.
3/07 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 121, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Jal. Williams at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sharpe at 25 and Simons at 24 a game. Without Grant (4 straight), Ayton (9 straight), Thybulle (63 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 42 percent from three to Portland's 36 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 122, Portland 115.
3/09 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Simons at 24 and Sharpe at 21 a game. Without Ayton (10 straight), Thybulle (64 straight), Williams III (8 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 25 and Beasley at 16 a game. Without Smith (2 straight), Harper Jr. (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Portland 115, Detroit 114, Detroit keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
PORAS A. Simons
DA D. Avdija
DB D. Banton
DC D. Clingan
DR D. Reath
JW J. Walker
KM K. Murray
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
CLE/POR 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
Hunter scores 32 points and Cavs hold off Blazers 133-129 in OT for 10th straight win, 50th overall
CLEVELAND -- — De'Andre Hunter scored 32 points and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30 seconds left in overtime as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for a 133-129 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday to extend their winning streak to 10 and become the first NBA team with 50 victories this season.
The Cavs were down 18 in the third quarter before fighting back to win for the 14th time in 15 games. They did it without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell , who got some planned rest.
Ty Jerome added 25 points and Evan Mobley 20 for Cleveland, which was coming off an emotional win on Friday at Boston during which it erased a 22-point deficit.
Portland's Deni Avdija had 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double. Anfernee Simons added 27 points.
After Simons' 3-pointer with 44 seconds to go in OT put the Blazers ahead 129-128, Hunter, who was acquired by Cleveland at the trade deadline, drained his biggest shot since joining the Cavs.
Avdija missed a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left and Hunter made two free throws as the Cavs improved 28-4 at home.
Takeaways Blazers: They gave the NBA's top team all it could handle before fading down the stretch. Still, it was a positive performance.
Cavaliers: With a demanding schedule in March — 16 games, 29 days — coach Kenny Atkinson said the team will be strategic about making sure players get rest as the playoffs approach.
Key moment With Portland up two in OT, Cavs guard Darius Garland , who was just 4 of 16 from the field, hustled back to deflect a long pass that could have been an easy layup.
Key stat Cleveland has three double-digit winning streaks this season. The Cavs opened 15-0 and won 12 in a row from Dec. 13 to Jan. 9.
Up next The Blazers are in Philadelphia on Monday. The Cavaliers play in Chicago on Tuesday.