Game ID: 22400979
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 38 22 23 20 103ORL 25 22 35 26 108
CLE vs ORL ScoutingCLE vs ORL 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 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)
CLE availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 6 since 2/28, out tonight
CLE availability going into 3/14 · 2 days' restOUT Tomlin missed 7 since 2/28, out tonight
CLE availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 34 min (109% of 32)
OUT Tomlin missed 8 since 2/28, out tonight
CLE availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 9 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 34 min since (109% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT Tomlin missed 10 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 34 min since (107% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 11 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 34 min since (107% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 12 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 33 min since (105% of 32)
ORL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 4 since 2/27, returns tonight: 12 min (81% of 15)
OUT Queen missed 4 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Joseph back 3/02 after 2, 15 min since (111% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 8 min since (56% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 24 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 5 since 2/27, returns tonight: 12 min (86% of 14)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 12 min since (81% of 15)
BACK Joseph back 3/02 after 2, 15 min since (111% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 7 min since (52% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 26 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Joseph missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 30 min (223% of 13)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 11 min since (76% of 15)
BACK Queen back 3/10 after 5, 12 min since (86% of 14)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 7 min since (50% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 27 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 3/14 · back-to-backBACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 11 min since (76% of 15)
BACK Queen back 3/10 after 5, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 30 min since (223% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 9 min since (66% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 28 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Anthony missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 6 min (34% of 18)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 15 min since (98% of 15)
BACK Queen back 3/10 after 5, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 29 min since (216% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 3/06 after 3, 12 min since (93% of 13)
ORL availability going into 3/19 · 2 days' restOUT Queen missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Anthony back 3/16 after 2, 6 min since (34% of 18)
BACK Harris back 3/08 after 4, 16 min since (107% of 15)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 28 min since (205% of 13)
ORL availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 3 since 3/14, out tonight
OUT Howard missed 2 since 3/16, returns tonight: 9 min (75% of 12)
BACK Anthony back 3/16 after 2, 6 min since (34% of 18)
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 27 min since (203% of 13)
ORL availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restOUT Anthony missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 4 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Joseph back 3/13 after 2, 26 min since (196% of 13)
BACK Howard back 3/21 after 2, 9 min since (75% of 12)
ORL availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Anthony missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 5 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Howard back 3/21 after 2, 9 min since (75% of 12)
NEW Joseph 13 to 24 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 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Mitchell (2 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 30 and Wagner at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Anthony (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-2 a night and Orlando minus-11 and the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 14 times a game to Orlando's 10. Call it Cleveland 115, Orlando 107.
3/07 @ CHA 118-117 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-117. CLE shot 42% (32 of 76) to CHA's 48%, 11 of 34 from three, and went to the line 51 times to CHA's 21 — 43 points from the stripe to their 16. Mitchell led with 24 (6 of 19, 0 of 6 from three, 12 of 18 at the line); Garland added 20, Mobley 19. The hinge was Q2, 36-25: from level to 11 ahead.
3/09 @ MIL 112-100 — CLE notes
CLE won 112-100. CLE shot 44% (39 of 88) to MIL's 43%, 19 of 47 from three. Strus led with 17 (6 of 11, 5 of 9 from three); Mitchell added 15, Garland 13. The hinge was Q2, 28-20: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 19. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/11 vs BKN 109-104 — CLE notes
CLE won 109-104. CLE shot 44% (39 of 89) to BKN's 46%, 10 of 42 from three, and went to the line 25 times to BKN's 14 — 21 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 48-38 for them. Garland led with 30 (11 of 24, 3 of 11 from three); Allen added 23, Mobley 21. The hinge was Q4, 31-18: CLE came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 5. CLE trailed 50-63 at the half and won the second half 59-41. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/14 @ MEM 133-124 — CLE notes
CLE won 133-124. CLE shot 50% (44 of 88) to MEM's 49%, 19 of 51 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MEM's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 17. Mobley led with 22 (9 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Garland added 20, Hunter 18. The hinge was Q2, 39-29: a lead of 7 became 17, and the lead reached 25. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/16 vs ORL 103-108 — CLE notes
CLE lost 103-108. CLE took 15 more shots (96 to 81), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to ORL's 42%, 10 of 40 from three, and got to the line 20 times to ORL's 34. Mitchell led with 23 (9 of 28, 3 of 14 from three); Allen added 20, Garland 19. Q1 was theirs, 38-25, but the other 3 periods went 83-65 against them. They led by as many as 13. Jerome's -9 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 27 and Leonard at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 30 free throws a game; Mitchell at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 32 and the line, where Cleveland takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 22. Call it the Clippers 114, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/19 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and LaVine at 21 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Mitchell at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Sacramento's 124. Call it Cleveland 118, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
3/21 @ PHX — 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 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Beal (2 straight), Allen (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mobley at 23 and Mitchell at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 32 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Cleveland minus-3. Call it Phoenix 116, Cleveland 115, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/23 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sexton at 20 and George at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Collins (5 straight), Martin (4 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mobley at 22 and Garland at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 18 times a game to Cleveland's 12. Call it Cleveland 119, Utah 115, Utah keeping it close.
3/08 @ MIL 111-109 — ORL notes
ORL won 111-109. ORL shot 51% (42 of 82) to MIL's 55%, 12 of 32 from three. Banchero led with 29 (9 of 16, 4 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Anthony added 22, Wagner 18. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Anthony was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
3/10 @ HOU 84-97 — ORL notes
ORL lost 84-97. ORL shot 33% (28 of 86) to HOU's 39%, 8 of 32 from three, and went to the line 24 times to HOU's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 11. ORL turned it over 8 times to HOU's 19. The glass went 42-63 against them. Banchero led with 25 (10 of 23, 2 of 6 from three); Wagner added 15. Q4 was theirs, 22-22, but the other 3 periods went 75-62 against them. Carter Jr.'s -14 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 @ NOP 113-93 — ORL notes
ORL won 113-93. ORL shot 52% (43 of 83) to NOP's 44%, 13 of 33 from three. ORL turned it over 8 times to NOP's 13. Banchero led with 34 (14 of 22, 4 of 8 from three); Wagner added 27, Caldwell-Pope 12. The hinge was Q2, 36-15: a lead of 9 became 30, and the lead reached 36. Banchero was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
3/14 @ MIN 111-118 — ORL notes
ORL lost 111-118. ORL took 9 more shots (89 to 80), but shot 45% to MIN's 52%, 12 of 28 from three, and got to the line 22 times to MIN's 28. The glass went 31-45 against them. Banchero led with 43 (16 of 32, 2 of 7 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Houstan added 18, Wagner 16. Q3 was theirs, 29-16, turning a 4-point deficit into a 9-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 102-82 against them. They led by as many as 11. Wagner's -16 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 @ CLE 108-103 — ORL notes
ORL won 108-103. ORL shot 42% (34 of 81) to CLE's 42%, 13 of 31 from three, and went to the line 34 times to CLE's 20 — 27 points from the stripe to their 13. Banchero led with 24 (6 of 22, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Wagner added 22, Black 17. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: the deficit went from 13 to 1. ORL trailed 47-60 at the half and won the second half 61-43. Harris was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/19 vs HOU — 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 105 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 25 and Eason at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 19 a night. Without Thompson (5 straight), Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-19 a night and Orlando minus-8. Call it Houston 110, Orlando 108, Orlando keeping it close.
3/21 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sarr at 21 and George at 13 a game. Without Coulibaly (5 straight), Brogdon (14 straight), Holmes (2 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 105, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 105 a night to Washington's 122 and the glass, where Washington has been minus-2 a night and Orlando minus-8. Call it Orlando 111, Washington 110, Washington keeping it close.
3/24 vs LAL — 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 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Banchero at 32 and Wagner at 21 a game. Without Anthony (2 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Reaves at 26 a game. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 107 a night to the Lakers' 115. Call it Orlando 112, the Lakers 108, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/25 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 15 free throws a game; Ball at 20 and Bridges at 15 a game. Without Gra. Williams (55 straight), Baugh (3 straight), Okogie (26 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Banchero at 32 and Wagner at 22 a game. Without Anthony (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 110 a night to Charlotte's 124 and the line, where Orlando takes 22 free throws a game to Charlotte's 15. Call it Orlando 112, Charlotte 108, Charlotte keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLEDG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
CH C. Houstan
CJ C. Joseph
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
GH G. Harris
JI J. Isaac
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
PB P. Banchero
TD T. da Silva
WC W. Carter Jr.
CLE/ORL 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
Magic end Cavaliers' winning streak at 16 games as Banchero scores 24 points in 108-103 victory
CLEVELAND -- — Paolo Banchero scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22 and the Orlando Magic stunned Cleveland 108-103 on Sunday to end the Cavaliers' winning streak at 16 games.
The Cavs lost for the first time since Feb. 4 as the Eastern Conference leaders were unable to put away the Magic in the final minutes. Cleveland missed five shots — three by All-Star Donovan Mitchell — in the final minute.
Banchero's 16-foot jumper put the Magic ahead 104-103, and after a badly missed 3-pointer by Cleveland's De'Andre Hunter , Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made two free throws with 31 seconds left to give Orlando a three-point lead.
Max Strus missed a potential tying 3-pointer on Cleveland's next possession and Orlando's defense swarmed Mitchell, who misfired on a pair of 3s.
Banchero shot just 6 of 22 but added 11 rebounds and seven assists. Wendell Carter Jr . added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando.
Mitchell returned after missing two games with a sore groin and finished with 23 points. Jarrett Allen added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who were denied becoming the first team since Phoenix in 2021 to win 17 straight.
The NBA-leading Cavs played without All-Star forward Evan Mobley , who has been dealing with a bruised foot.
Takeaways Magic: Orlando may not resemble the same team that took Cleveland to seven games in last year's playoffs due to season-ending injuries for Mo Wagner and Jalen Suggs . But the Magic showed plenty of grit in handing the Cavs just their second loss in 22 games.
Cavaliers: Cleveland's late-game execution hasn't been great and needs to be addressed before the playoffs.
Key moment Leading by eight late in the third quarter, the Cavs committed three turnovers in 27 seconds. Given new life, the Magic ripped off 10 straight points.
Key stat Hunter lost for the first time in 14 games with Cleveland since coming over in a deadline trade from Atlanta.
Up next The Magic host the Rockets on Wednesday. The Cavaliers start a five-game trip against the Clippers on Tuesday.