Game ID: 22400474
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Dallas Mavericks
Friday, January 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM ET
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DAL 21 32 32 37 122CLE 32 37 31 34 134
CLE @ DAL ScoutingCLE @ 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.
DAL availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Hardy missed 7 since 12/07, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 16)
OUT Williams missed 15 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 17 min since (92% of 19)
DAL availability going into 12/28 · back-to-backOUT Williams missed 16 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 19 min since (101% of 19)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 1 min since (6% of 16)
DAL availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 17 since 11/22, returns tonight: 20 min (132% of 15)
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 9 min since (56% of 16)
DAL availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 20 min (88% of 23)
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 13 min since (81% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 20 min since (132% of 15)
NEW Kleber 19 to 25 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 20 min since (88% of 23)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 11 min since (73% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 28 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/06 · 2 days' restOUT Marshall missed 4 since 12/28, returns tonight: 33 min (118% of 28)
OUT Edwards missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 24 min since (103% of 23)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 17 min since (106% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 14 min since (94% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 27 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/07 · back-to-backOUT Irving missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Edwards missed 3 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/06 after 4, 33 min since (118% of 28)
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 27 min since (116% of 23)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 11 min since (72% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Hardy 16 to 21 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Irving missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Edwards missed 4 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/06 after 4, 31 min since (111% of 28)
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 25 min since (108% of 23)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 9 min since (60% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Hardy 16 to 22 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/12 · 2 days' restOUT Irving missed 4 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Edwards missed 5 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 1/06 after 4, 29 min since (105% of 28)
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 27 min since (116% of 23)
NEW Grimes 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hardy 16 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 2 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 12/27 · 3 days' restOUT Okoro missed 3 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 12/30 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 4 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 12/31 · back-to-backOUT Okoro missed 5 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Okoro missed 6 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Okoro missed 7 since 12/20, out tonight
CLE availability going into 1/08 · 2 days' restOUT Merrill missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 8 since 12/20, returns tonight: 13 min (70% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/09 · back-to-backOUT Merrill missed 3 since 1/03, returns tonight: 13 min (64% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 13 min since (70% of 18)
CLE availability going into 1/12 · 2 days' restBACK Merrill back 1/09 after 3, 13 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 1/08 after 8, 10 min since (55% of 18)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 30 and Dinwiddie at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Marshall (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-0 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the arc, Cleveland at 44 percent from three to Dallas's 38. Call it Cleveland 115, Dallas 112, Dallas keeping it close.
12/27 @ PHX 98-89 — DAL notes
DAL won 98-89. DAL shot 44% (35 of 80) to PHX's 39%, 12 of 34 from three. Irving led with 20 (6 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Gafford added 16, Kleber 15. The hinge was Q2, 27-14: a lead of 3 became 16. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/28 @ POR 122-126 — DAL notes
DAL lost 122-126. DAL shot 48% (43 of 89) to POR's 50%, 15 of 38 from three. The glass went 40-50 against them. Irving led with 46 (16 of 26, 5 of 12 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Dinwiddie added 17, Gafford 15. Q4 was theirs, 40-29, the deficit cut from 15 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 97-82 against them. Irving's -17 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/30 @ SAC 100-110 — DAL notes
DAL lost 100-110. DAL shot 42% (32 of 76) to SAC's 42%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAC's 19 — 24 points from the stripe to their 16. The glass went 36-58 against them. Dinwiddie led with 30 (8 of 18, 3 of 6 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Washington added 28, Grimes 11. Q1 was theirs, 37-23, but the other 3 periods went 87-63 against them. They led by as many as 18. Grimes's -18 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/01 @ HOU 99-110 — DAL notes
DAL lost 99-110. DAL shot 53% (40 of 75) to HOU's 47%, 11 of 28 from three, and got to the line 16 times to HOU's 23. DAL turned it over 20 times to HOU's 12, and HOU turned those into 17 steals. Grimes led with 17 (6 of 13, 2 of 7 from three); Irving added 16, Thompson 16. Q1 was theirs, 30-24, but the other 3 periods went 86-69 against them. They led by as many as 10. Gafford's -27 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs CLE 122-134 — DAL notes
DAL lost 122-134. DAL shot 43% (43 of 100) to CLE's 53%, 12 of 44 from three, and went to the line 30 times to CLE's 20 — 24 points from the stripe to their 15. DAL turned it over 12 times to CLE's 7. Grimes led with 26 (9 of 14, 1 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Hardy added 17, Thompson 16. Q4 was theirs, 37-34, the deficit cut from 15 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 100-85 against them. Hardy's -19 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 @ 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 120 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 27 and Bane at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Morant (4 straight), Aldama (5 straight), Smart (7 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Irving at 27 and Grimes at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Marshall (4 straight), Edwards (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-8 a night and Dallas minus-5 and the defense, Dallas allowing 114 a night to Memphis's 125. Call it Memphis 119, Dallas 115, Dallas keeping it close.
1/07 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Washington at 16 and Grimes at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Irving (2 straight), Edwards (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 28 and James at 28 a game. Without Vincent (4 straight), Vanderbilt (29 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-1 a night and Dallas minus-5 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 12. Call it the Lakers 115, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
1/09 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Washington at 18 and Grimes at 17 a game. Without Irving (3 straight), Edwards (4 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Simons at 26 and Avdija at 19 a game. Without Grant (5 straight), Thybulle (36 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 115, Portland 109.
1/12 vs DEN — 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 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grimes at 18 and Hardy at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Irving (4 straight), Edwards (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 41 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Gordon (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and Denver plus-1 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Dallas 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
12/23 vs UTA 124-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 124-113. CLE shot 47% (43 of 91) to UTA's 41%, 20 of 46 from three. CLE turned it over 9 times to UTA's 16. The glass went 40-51 against them. Garland led with 23 (8 of 14, 3 of 6 from three); Mobley added 22, Mitchell 22. The hinge was Q3, 39-32: a lead of 4 became 11, and the lead reached 17. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/27 @ DEN 149-135 — CLE notes
CLE won 149-135. CLE shot 56% (54 of 96) to DEN's 56%, 23 of 48 from three. Mitchell led with 33 (10 of 17, 6 of 12 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Mobley added 26, Garland 25. The hinge was Q2, 40-27: a lead of 2 became 15, and the lead reached 21. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/30 @ GSW 113-95 — CLE notes
CLE won 113-95. CLE shot 46% (44 of 96) to GSW's 33%, 18 of 47 from three, and got to the line 10 times to GSW's 26. Garland led with 25 (10 of 17, 3 of 8 from three); Mitchell added 23, Allen 12. The hinge was Q3, 37-27: a lead of 8 became 18, and the lead reached 26. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/31 @ LAL 122-110 — CLE notes
CLE won 122-110. CLE shot 48% (45 of 93) to LAL's 44%, 18 of 46 from three. Allen led with 27 (12 of 14); Mitchell added 26, Mobley 20. The hinge was Q1, 34-30: from level to 4 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/03 @ DAL 134-122 — CLE notes
CLE won 134-122. CLE shot 53% (52 of 98) to DAL's 43%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 20 times to DAL's 30. CLE turned it over 7 times to DAL's 12. Mobley led with 34 (14 of 21, 3 of 6 from three); LeVert added 17, Garland 16. The hinge was Q1, 32-21: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
1/05 vs CHA — 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 128 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (7 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 109, shooting 41 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Mar. Williams at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Miller (3 straight), Ball (3 straight), Gra. Williams (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Charlotte's 31 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 16 times a game to Cleveland's 11. Call it Cleveland 119, Charlotte 107, Cleveland by 12.
1/08 vs OKC — 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 127 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 23 and Garland at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Merrill (2 straight), Okoro (8 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 15 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Holmgren (25 straight), Caruso (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 102 a night to Cleveland's 113. Call it Cleveland 115, OKC 112, OKC keeping it close.
1/09 vs TOR — 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 123 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mobley at 20 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Merrill (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Barnes at 22 and Quickley at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Lawson (4 straight), Battle (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Toronto's 34 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to Toronto's 117. Call it Cleveland 121, Toronto 107, Cleveland by 14.
1/12 vs IND — 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 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 23 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Siakam at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Nesmith (33 straight), Isa. Jackson (33 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 106 a night to Cleveland's 117. Call it Cleveland 119, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
JA J. Allen
JT J. Thor
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
DALBW B. Williams
DG D. Gafford
DL D. Lively II
DP D. Powell
JG J. Gortman
JH J. Hardy
KT K. Thompson
MK M. Kleber
MM M. Morris
OP O. Prosper
PW P. Washington
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 34 as Cavaliers beat short-handed Mavericks 134-122, run win streak to 9 games
DALLAS -- — Evan Mobley had 34 points and 10 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers ran their winning streak to nine games by beating the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 134-122 on Friday night.
The NBA-leading Cavs improved to 30-4, swept a four-game Western Conference road trip and are now 10-0 against the West. All nine wins in the streak have been by double digits.
The Mavericks played without both of their All-Star guards, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving . Irving missed the game because of illness while Doncic has been sidelined since suffering a calf strain during the Mavericks’ Christmas Day loss to Minnesota.
Caris LeVert scored 17 off the bench for Cleveland.
Quentin Grimes scored 26 points, 20 in the third period, to lead the Mavericks, who have lost four straight to match a season long losing streak. Jaden Hardy added 17 off the bench and Klay Thompson scored 16, all in the first half.
The Cavaliers used a 20-point run to go from a 21-17 deficit late in the first period to a 37-21 lead early in the second. Their largest lead was 27 points.
Takeaways Cavaliers: Six players have averaged double figures in scoring this season. They had seven in this game.
Mavericks: The defending West champions went into Christmas Day 4 1/2 games behind first-place Oklahoma City and now trail by 9 1/2.
Key moment Back-to-back 3s by Thompson pulled the Mavericks within 64-53 with 44 seconds left in the half. But the Cavaliers closed with five straight points, LeVert getting a friendly bounce on a left-corner 3 with four seconds left, to lead 69-53 at halftime.
Key stat The Cavaliers outscored the Mavericks 18-0 in first-half turnover points and matched a season low with eight overall, two in the first half.
Up next The Cavaliers will host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. The Mavericks visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.