Game ID: 22400454
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 30 23 25 32 110CLE 34 24 29 35 122
CLE @ LAL ScoutingCLE @ LAL 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.
LAL availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 10 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 21 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (96% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 33 min since (95% of 35)
NEW Hachimura 32 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Christie 25 to 30 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 11 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 22 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 34 min since (97% of 35)
NEW Hachimura 32 to 38 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 12 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 23 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 34 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Reaves back 12/13 after 5, 35 min since (98% of 35)
LAL availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Hayes missed 13 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 24 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK James back 12/15 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 35)
LAL availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Hayes missed 14 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 25 since 11/04, out tonight
LAL availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Hayes missed 15 since 11/27, returns tonight: 18 min (96% of 19)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 26 since 11/04, out tonight
LAL availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Vincent missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 27 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/02 after 15, 18 min since (96% of 19)
NEW Christie 25 to 32 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 3 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 28 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/02 after 15, 14 min since (76% of 19)
NEW Christie 25 to 32 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 4 since 12/31, returns tonight: 24 min (114% of 21)
OUT Vanderbilt missed 29 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/02 after 15, 12 min since (61% of 19)
NEW Christie 25 to 33 min over the last 5
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
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)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; James at 28 and Reaves at 21 a game. Without Hayes (14 straight), Vanderbilt (25 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 17 and the arc, Cleveland at 45 percent from three to the Lakers' 39. Call it Cleveland 116, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/21 @ SAC 103-99 — LAL notes
LAL won 103-99. LAL shot 48% (40 of 83) to SAC's 43%, 9 of 35 from three, and went to the line 21 times to SAC's 14 — 14 points from the stripe to their 11. James led with 32 (13 of 24, 1 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Russell added 20, Reaves 16. The hinge was Q1, 31-26: from level to 5 ahead. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/23 vs DET 114-117 — LAL notes
LAL lost 114-117. LAL shot 54% (40 of 74) to DET's 51%, 14 of 30 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DET's 12 — 20 points from the stripe to their 12. LAL turned it over 18 times to DET's 12, and DET turned those into 12 steals. James led with 28 (10 of 16, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Davis added 19, Christie 17. Q2 was theirs, 32-28, turning a 2-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-82 against them. They led by as many as 10. Vincent's -22 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 @ GSW 115-113 — LAL notes
LAL won 115-113. LAL shot 45% (41 of 91) to GSW's 46%, 15 of 42 from three. James led with 31 (12 of 22, 2 of 4 from three); Reaves added 26, Hachimura 18. The hinge was Q3, 29-24: a lead of 3 became 8. Knecht was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/28 vs SAC 132-122 — LAL notes
LAL won 132-122. LAL shot 60% (46 of 77) to SAC's 51%, 14 of 26 from three, and went to the line 33 times to SAC's 15 — 26 points from the stripe to their 11. Davis led with 36 (12 of 16, 11 of 13 at the line); Reaves added 26, Hachimura 21. The hinge was Q3, 42-24: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 17, and the lead reached 20. LAL trailed 65-66 at the half and won the second half 67-56. Davis was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/31 vs CLE 110-122 — LAL notes
LAL lost 110-122. LAL shot 44% (42 of 95) to CLE's 48%, 9 of 35 from three. Reaves led with 35 (11 of 20, 1 of 4 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Davis added 28, James 23. Q2 was theirs, 23-24, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. Hachimura's -17 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; James at 28 and Reaves at 23 a game. Without Hayes (15 straight), Vanderbilt (26 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sharpe at 20 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Thybulle (32 straight), Banton (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 12 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 115 a night to Portland's 123. Call it the Lakers 118, Portland 111.
1/03 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 23 a game. Without Vincent (2 straight), Vanderbilt (27 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Johnson at 22 a game. Without Bogdanović (5 straight), Nance Jr. (2 straight), Gueye (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Atlanta takes 28 free throws a game to the Lakers' 22. Call it Atlanta 118, the Lakers 117, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/05 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Eason (8 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. Without Vincent (3 straight), Vanderbilt (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 109, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/07 @ DAL — 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.
12/21 vs PHI 126-99 — CLE notes
CLE won 126-99. CLE shot 53% (48 of 90) to PHI's 40%, 22 of 43 from three, and got to the line 15 times to PHI's 27. Garland led with 26 (9 of 11, 6 of 7 from three); Mobley added 22, Mitchell 19. The hinge was Q3, 33-21: a lead of 11 became 23, and the lead reached 35. LeVert was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
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 — 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.
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.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
CR C. Reddish
DF D. Finney-Smith
DK D. Knecht
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
RH R. Hachimura
SM S. Milton
CLE/LAL 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
Cavaliers beat Lakers 122-110 for 8th straight win and spoil LeBron's first game since turning 40
LOS ANGELES -- — Jarrett Allen scored a season-high 27 points, Donovan Mitchell added 26 and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their eighth straight, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 122-110 Wednesday night and spoiling LeBron James ' first game after turning 40.
James, who celebrated his birthday on Monday, scored 23 points as he became the first player in NBA history to appear in a game in his teens and 40s. Coincidentally, the milestone game came against the team that drafted James first overall in 2003 and where he spent 12 seasons in two stints.
The Akron, Ohio, native helped lead the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship in 2016.
Evan Mobley added 20 points for Cleveland, which enters the new year with an NBA-best 29-4 record, including a 9-0 against the Western Conference.
Austin Reaves had a season-high 35 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers. Anthony Davis added 28 points and 13 rebounds.
Los Angeles goes into 2025 with an 18-14 mark, seventh in the Western Conference.
Takeaways Cavaliers: Sam Merrill sprained his right ankle during the second quarter and did not return. Darius Garland had a season-high 14 assists.
Lakers: Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton made their Los Angeles debuts after being acquired in a trade with Brooklyn on Monday. Milton scored six points and Finney-Smith two.
Key moment Cleveland led 96-80 less than three minutes into the fourth quarter before Los Angeles started to rally. The Lakers got within 112-107 before the Cavaliers closed the game on a 10-3 run. Allen's dunk with 1:58 remaining gave Cleveland a 116-107 advantage, putting it out of reach.
Key stat The Cavaliers made 18 3-pointers, the seventh straight game they have had at least that many from beyond the arc.
Up next The Cavaliers wrap up their road trip at Dallas on Friday, while the Lakers host Portland on Thursday.