Game ID: 22401208
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday, December 13, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 25 32 30 28 115WAS 25 29 26 25 105
CLE vs WAS ScoutingCLE vs WAS 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 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 6 since 11/19, returns tonight: 19 min (91% of 20)
BACK LeVert back 11/29 after 4, 22 min since (92% of 24)
BACK Okoro back 11/24 after 2, 23 min since (127% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restBACK LeVert back 11/29 after 4, 23 min since (95% of 24)
BACK Wade back 12/03 after 6, 19 min since (91% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (134% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restBACK LeVert back 11/29 after 4, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Wade back 12/03 after 6, 19 min since (91% of 20)
CLE availability going into 12/08 · back-to-backBACK LeVert back 11/29 after 4, 24 min since (100% of 24)
BACK Wade back 12/03 after 6, 20 min since (100% of 20)
CLE availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Okoro missed 2 since 12/07, returns tonight: 25 min (134% of 18)
BACK Wade back 12/03 after 6, 23 min since (110% of 20)
CLE availability going into 12/16 · 2 days' restBACK Wade back 12/03 after 6, 22 min since (107% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 12/13 after 2, 25 min since (134% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/20 · 3 days' restBACK Okoro back 12/13 after 2, 22 min since (119% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backBACK Okoro back 12/13 after 2, 22 min since (119% of 18)
CLE availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 2 since 12/20, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/03 · 2 days' restOUT Champagnie missed 8 since 11/15, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 11 since 11/10, returns tonight: 13 min (73% of 17)
BACK Poole back 11/27 after 2, 29 min since (100% of 29)
WAS availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 2 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Champagnie missed 9 since 11/15, returns tonight: 29 min (135% of 22)
BACK Poole back 11/27 after 2, 28 min since (94% of 29)
BACK Holmes back 12/03 after 11, 13 min since (73% of 17)
WAS availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 3 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Poole back 11/27 after 2, 29 min since (98% of 29)
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 29 min since (135% of 22)
BACK Holmes back 12/03 after 11, 13 min since (73% of 17)
WAS availability going into 12/08 · back-to-backOUT Kuzma missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT George missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Kispert missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Poole back 11/27 after 2, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 33 min since (153% of 22)
WAS availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Kuzma missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Sarr missed 2 since 12/07, returns tonight: 26 min (98% of 27)
OUT George missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Kispert missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Brogdon missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 33 min since (155% of 22)
NEW Butler 11 to 20 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 6 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT George missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Kispert missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Brogdon missed 3 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 26 min since (98% of 27)
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 34 min since (158% of 22)
NEW Butler 11 to 19 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Kuzma missed 7 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT George missed 5 since 12/05, returns tonight: 17 min (63% of 26)
OUT Kispert missed 5 since 12/05, returns tonight: 19 min (73% of 26)
OUT Brogdon missed 4 since 12/07, returns tonight: 27 min (115% of 24)
OUT Holmes missed 5 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 27 min since (100% of 27)
BACK Champagnie back 12/05 after 9, 35 min since (162% of 22)
NEW Poole 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Butler 11 to 19 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 8 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 6 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 29 min since (107% of 27)
BACK George back 12/19 after 5, 17 min since (63% of 26)
BACK Kispert back 12/19 after 5, 19 min since (73% of 26)
BACK Brogdon back 12/19 after 4, 27 min since (115% of 24)
NEW Poole 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Champagnie 22 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Butler 11 to 19 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Kuzma missed 9 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Holmes missed 7 since 12/05, returns tonight: 3 min (20% of 17)
OUT Butler missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 8 min (73% of 11)
BACK Sarr back 12/13 after 2, 30 min since (110% of 27)
BACK George back 12/19 after 5, 20 min since (74% of 26)
BACK Kispert back 12/19 after 5, 22 min since (86% of 26)
BACK Brogdon back 12/19 after 4, 25 min since (108% of 24)
NEW Champagnie 22 to 31 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Garland at 20 a game. Without Okoro (2 straight). 4 days' rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 126, shooting 43 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Brogdon at 17 a game. Without Kuzma (5 straight), Sarr (2 straight), George (3 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Washington's 28 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 107 a night to Washington's 126. Call it Cleveland 124, Washington 107, Cleveland by 17.
12/03 vs WAS 118-87 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-87. CLE shot 48% (43 of 89) to WAS's 39%, 16 of 46 from three. CLE turned it over 11 times to WAS's 20. Mobley led with 19 (6 of 12, 6 of 8 at the line); Mitchell added 19, Niang 14. The hinge was Q1, 35-20: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 31. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/05 vs DEN 126-114 — CLE notes
CLE won 126-114. CLE shot 50% (47 of 94) to DEN's 48%, 22 of 48 from three, and got to the line 16 times to DEN's 22. Mitchell led with 28 (11 of 24, 6 of 10 from three); Garland added 24, LeVert 21. The hinge was Q3, 36-25: a lead of 4 became 15, and the lead reached 18. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/07 @ CHA 116-102 — CLE notes
CLE won 116-102. CLE shot 50% (42 of 84) to CHA's 43%, 14 of 38 from three. The glass went 47-37 for them. Mobley led with 41 (16 of 23, 6 of 8 from three); Mitchell added 18, Garland 18. The hinge was Q1, 40-18: from level to 22 ahead. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/08 @ MIA 113-122 — CLE notes
CLE lost 113-122. CLE shot 48% (41 of 86) to MIA's 48%, 14 of 33 from three, and got to the line 18 times to MIA's 26. The glass went 36-47 against them. Garland led with 23 (9 of 19, 2 of 6 from three); Niang added 15, Jerome 14. Q1 was theirs, 25-21, but the other 3 periods went 101-88 against them. Mitchell's -16 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 vs WAS 115-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-105. CLE shot 40% (36 of 91) to WAS's 48%, 15 of 50 from three, and went to the line 40 times to WAS's 11 — 28 points from the stripe to their 9. CLE turned it over 11 times to WAS's 17. Garland led with 24 (6 of 17, 3 of 10 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Allen added 21, Mitchell 20. The hinge was Q3, 30-26: a lead of 3 became 7. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/16 @ 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 105 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 22 and Schröder at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Thomas (7 straight), Williams (4 straight), Martin (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mobley at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been minus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-7 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 106 a night to Brooklyn's 114. Call it Cleveland 116, Brooklyn 109.
12/20 vs MIL — 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 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mobley at 22 and Garland at 20 a game. 3 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 33 and Lillard at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Wright (4 straight). 5 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 117, Milwaukee 110.
12/21 vs PHI — 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 120 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mobley at 20 and Mitchell at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Embiid at 26 and Maxey at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without C. Martin (3 straight), Edwards (7 straight), McCain (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Philadelphia giving it away 16 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 115, Philadelphia 107.
12/23 vs UTA — 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 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Mitchell at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Okoro (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; George at 20 and Markkanen at 18 a game. Without Hendricks (24 straight), Williams (11 straight), Filipowski (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 106 a night to Utah's 126 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 20 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 124, Utah 108, Cleveland by 16.
12/03 @ CLE 87-118 — WAS notes
WAS lost 87-118. WAS shot 39% (32 of 83) to CLE's 48%, 4 of 26 from three. WAS turned it over 20 times to CLE's 11, and CLE turned those into 11 steals. Carrington led with 13 (5 of 12, 2 of 6 from three); Poole added 13, Valančiūnas 13. Q3 was theirs, 25-26, but the other 3 periods went 92-62 against them. Poole's -25 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/05 vs DAL 101-137 — WAS notes
WAS lost 101-137. WAS took 10 more shots (99 to 89), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to DAL's 54%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DAL's 27. The glass went 39-58 against them. Brogdon led with 16 (5 of 13, 2 of 4 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Bagley III added 16, Carrington 15. Q3 was theirs, 27-34, but the other 3 periods went 103-74 against them. Brogdon's -29 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/07 vs DEN 122-113 — WAS notes
WAS won 122-113. WAS shot 48% (45 of 93) to DEN's 48%, 16 of 41 from three. Poole led with 39 (12 of 26, 9 of 20 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Champagnie added 23, Valančiūnas 20. The hinge was Q1, 36-29: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Davis was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/08 vs MEM 112-140 — WAS notes
WAS lost 112-140. WAS shot 43% (43 of 100) to MEM's 52%, 6 of 32 from three, and got to the line 22 times to MEM's 29. WAS turned it over 21 times to MEM's 16, and MEM turned those into 12 steals. Bagley III led with 20 (9 of 15); Valančiūnas added 20, Coulibaly 17. Q4 was theirs, 30-29, the deficit cut from 29 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 111-82 against them. Poole's -28 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 @ CLE 105-115 — WAS notes
WAS lost 105-115. WAS shot 48% (41 of 86) to CLE's 40%, 14 of 40 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 28 fouls committed. WAS turned it over 17 times to CLE's 11, and CLE turned those into 10 steals. Coulibaly led with 27 (10 of 18, 5 of 8 from three); Poole added 17, Champagnie 16. Q1 was theirs, 25-25, but the other 3 periods went 90-80 against them. Carrington's -20 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 125, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Poole at 18 and Champagnie at 16 a game. Without Kuzma (6 straight), George (4 straight), Kispert (4 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 23 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 108 a night to Washington's 125 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 13. Call it Boston 121, Washington 109, Boston by 12.
12/19 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 16 free throws a game; Poole at 19 and Champagnie at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kuzma (7 straight), George (5 straight), Kispert (5 straight). 3 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Miller at 22 and Jeffries at 11 a game. Without Gra. Williams (10 straight), Mann (11 straight), Jeffries (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-0 a night and Washington minus-5 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 116 a night to Washington's 123. Call it Charlotte 113, Washington 112, Washington keeping it close.
12/21 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 33 and Lillard at 25 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Poole at 23 and Coulibaly at 17 a game. Without Kuzma (8 straight), Holmes (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 112 a night to Washington's 119 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 18 times a game to Milwaukee's 15. Call it Milwaukee 116, Washington 111.
12/23 @ 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 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (17 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Poole at 20 and Coulibaly at 19 a game. Without Kuzma (9 straight), Holmes (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 101 a night to Washington's 119 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 18 times a game to OKC's 14. Call it OKC 118, Washington 104, OKC by 14.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
WASAG A. Gill
AS A. Sarr
BC B. Carrington
BC B. Coulibaly
JB J. Butler
JC J. Champagnie
JD J. Davis
JP J. Poole
JV J. Valančiūnas
MB M. Bagley III
CLE/WAS 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
Darius Garland scores 24 points for NBA-leading Cavaliers in 115-105 victory over Wizards
CLEVELAND -- — Darius Garland scored 24 points and Jarrett Allen had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington 115-105 on Friday night, sending the Wizards to their 18th loss in 19 games.
Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points and Garland added eight assists for Cleveland, which is 22-4 and holds a 1 1/2-game lead over Boston for the top record in the league. The Cavaliers, who lead the NBA in field-goal percentage, shot a season-low 39.6%.
Caris LeVert had 14 points and six assists and Isaac Okoro scored 13 points. Cleveland went 15 of 51 on 3-pointers.
Bilal Coulibaly tied his career high with 27 points and Jordan Poole scored 17 for the Wizards. Justin Champagnie had 16 points and eight rebounds as Washington fell to a league-worst 3-20.
Takeaways Wizards: Alex Sarr, the No. 2 overall draft pick, returned after missing two games with a sore lower back and made his first five shots, including a 3-pointer. The 7-footer from France finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes.
Cavaliers: Power forward Evan Mobley , who is averaging 18.3 points and 9.1 rebounds, sprained his left ankle in the previous game at Miami and did not play. Coach Kenny Atkinson said he isn’t concerned the injury will be “a long-term thing.”
Key moment LeVert scored four points and absorbed a flagrant foul from Poole during a 7-0 Cavaliers run that bridged the third and fourth quarters, finally giving them breathing room with an 89-80 lead.
Key stats Cleveland improved to 14-1 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this season, the second-best home mark in the NBA behind unbeaten Orlando. The Cavaliers also beat Washington for the 11th straight time, their longest streak in the 55-year series.
Up Next Wizards host Boston on Sunday, and Cavaliers visit Brooklyn on Monday.