Game ID: 22401175
Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks
Friday, April 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 39 23 24 16 102CLE 24 26 28 30 108
CLE @ NYK ScoutingCLE @ NYK 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.
NYK availability going into 4/05 · 2 days' restOUT Brunson missed 14 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 7 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 8 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Payne missed 4 since 3/28, returns tonight: 22 min (155% of 14)
NEW Wright 14 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Shamet 14 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/06 · back-to-backOUT Brunson missed 15 since 3/07, returns tonight: 34 min (96% of 36)
OUT McBride missed 8 since 3/22, returns tonight: 16 min (67% of 24)
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 13 min (67% of 19)
OUT Tucker missed 9 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Payne back 4/05 after 4, 22 min since (155% of 14)
NEW Wright 14 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Shamet 14 to 26 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 10 since 3/20, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 4/06 after 15, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK McBride back 4/06 after 8, 16 min since (67% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 4/06 after 2, 13 min since (67% of 19)
BACK Payne back 4/05 after 4, 18 min since (126% of 14)
NEW Wright 14 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Shamet 14 to 25 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Achiuwa missed 2 since 4/06, returns tonight: 40 min (215% of 18)
OUT Tucker missed 11 since 3/20, returns tonight: 27 min (172% of 16)
OUT Wright missed 2 since 4/06, returns tonight: 13 min (94% of 14)
BACK Brunson back 4/06 after 15, 36 min since (102% of 36)
BACK McBride back 4/06 after 8, 18 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 4/06 after 2, 14 min since (75% of 19)
BACK Payne back 4/05 after 4, 16 min since (119% of 14)
NEW Shamet 14 to 22 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/11 · back-to-backBACK Brunson back 4/06 after 15, 34 min since (95% of 36)
BACK McBride back 4/06 after 8, 25 min since (106% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 4/06 after 2, 14 min since (75% of 19)
BACK Achiuwa back 4/10 after 2, 40 min since (215% of 18)
BACK Tucker back 4/10 after 11, 27 min since (172% of 16)
BACK Payne back 4/05 after 4, 16 min since (115% of 14)
BACK Wright back 4/10 after 2, 13 min since (94% of 14)
NYK availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restBACK Brunson back 4/06 after 15, 35 min since (96% of 36)
BACK McBride back 4/06 after 8, 23 min since (98% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 4/06 after 2, 20 min since (108% of 19)
BACK Achiuwa back 4/10 after 2, 27 min since (148% of 18)
BACK Tucker back 4/10 after 11, 27 min since (172% of 16)
BACK Payne back 4/05 after 4, 15 min since (109% of 14)
BACK Wright back 4/10 after 2, 13 min since (94% of 14)
NYK availability going into 4/19 · 5 days' restOUT Towns missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 39 min (112% of 35)
BACK Brunson back 4/06 after 15, 35 min since (96% of 36)
BACK McBride back 4/06 after 8, 25 min since (104% of 24)
BACK Robinson back 4/06 after 2, 20 min since (108% of 19)
BACK Achiuwa back 4/10 after 2, 29 min since (158% of 18)
BACK Tucker back 4/10 after 11, 28 min since (180% of 16)
BACK Wright back 4/10 after 2, 17 min since (121% of 14)
NEW Shamet 14 to 19 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 4/21 · 1 day's restBACK Towns back 4/19 after 2, 39 min since (112% of 35)
BACK Achiuwa back 4/10 after 2, 29 min since (158% of 18)
BACK Tucker back 4/10 after 11, 28 min since (180% of 16)
BACK Wright back 4/10 after 2, 17 min since (121% of 14)
NYK availability going into 4/24 · 2 days' restOUT Achiuwa missed 2 since 4/19, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 2 since 4/19, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 2 since 4/19, out tonight
BACK Towns back 4/19 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 35)
CLE availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Jerome missed 4 since 3/27, out tonight
BACK Tomlin back 4/02 after 17, 2 min since (17% of 13)
CLE availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 2 since 4/02, returns tonight: 4 min (17% of 20)
OUT Jerome missed 5 since 3/27, returns tonight: 23 min (116% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/02 after 17, 2 min since (17% of 13)
CLE availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 4 min since (17% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 23 min since (116% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 3 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 12 min since (59% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 22 min since (111% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/11 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 4/08, out tonight
OUT Tomlin missed 4 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 18 min since (87% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 23 min since (117% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 4/08, out tonight
OUT Tomlin missed 5 since 4/04, returns tonight: 47 min (369% of 13)
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 20 min since (98% of 20)
BACK Jerome back 4/06 after 5, 23 min since (117% of 20)
CLE availability going into 4/20 · 6 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 4/08, returns tonight: 33 min (106% of 32)
OUT Hunter missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 16 min (65% of 25)
OUT Jerome missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 26 min (132% of 20)
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 4/11, returns tonight: 24 min (121% of 20)
BACK Wade back 4/06 after 2, 20 min since (98% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/13 after 5, 47 min since (369% of 13)
NEW Okoro 18 to 24 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 4/23 · 2 days' restBACK Mitchell back 4/20 after 4, 33 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Hunter back 4/20 after 2, 16 min since (65% of 25)
BACK Jerome back 4/20 after 2, 26 min since (132% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 2, 24 min since (121% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/13 after 5, 47 min since (369% of 13)
CLE availability going into 4/26 · 2 days' restBACK Mitchell back 4/20 after 4, 34 min since (109% of 32)
BACK Hunter back 4/20 after 2, 20 min since (80% of 25)
BACK Jerome back 4/20 after 2, 25 min since (124% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 4/20 after 2, 22 min since (110% of 20)
BACK Tomlin back 4/13 after 5, 47 min since (369% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Towns at 27 and Anunoby at 23 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 15 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Jerome at 21 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 40 percent from three to New York's 36. Call it New York 116, Cleveland 115, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/05 @ ATL 121-105 — NYK notes
NYK won 121-105. NYK shot 54% (45 of 84) to ATL's 47%, 15 of 29 from three, and went to the line 19 times to ATL's 12 — 16 points from the stripe to their 9. Towns led with 30 (10 of 15, 2 of 3 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Anunoby added 24, Bridges 20. The hinge was Q2, 40-22: a lead of 7 became 25, and the lead reached 34. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
4/06 vs PHX 112-98 — NYK notes
NYK won 112-98. NYK shot 54% (40 of 74) to PHX's 42%, 12 of 28 from three. Anunoby led with 32 (13 of 17, 6 of 8 from three); Bridges added 22, Towns 19. The hinge was Q3, 34-27: a lead of 10 became 17. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
4/08 vs BOS 117-119 — NYK notes
NYK lost 117-119 in 1 overtime. NYK took 14 more shots (101 to 87), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to BOS's 46%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 16 times to BOS's 25. The glass went 52-38 for them. Towns led with 34 (14 of 21, 1 of 3 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Brunson added 27, Bridges 14. Q4 was theirs, 29-24, the deficit cut from 5 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 95-88 against them. They led by as many as 11.
4/10 @ DET 106-115 — NYK notes
NYK lost 106-115. NYK took 8 more shots (90 to 82), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to DET's 57%, 11 of 34 from three. Towns led with 25 (10 of 19); Achiuwa added 18, Bridges 17. Q1 was theirs, 35-29, but the other 3 periods went 86-71 against them. They led by as many as 13. McBride's -15 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/11 vs CLE 102-108 — NYK notes
NYK lost 102-108. NYK took 11 more shots (88 to 77), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to CLE's 49%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 20 times to CLE's 30. NYK turned it over 8 times to CLE's 15. The glass went 35-49 against them. Brunson led with 27 (9 of 17, 3 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Bridges added 17, Anunoby 15. Q1 was theirs, 39-24, but the other 3 periods went 84-63 against them. They led by as many as 23. Hart's -16 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/13 @ 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 104 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Wilson at 14 and Watford at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Clowney (6 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Towns at 27 and Anunoby at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-6 and the defense, New York allowing 109 a night to Brooklyn's 118. Call it New York 113, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
4/19 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Towns at 26 and Brunson at 21 a game. Without Towns (2 straight). 5 days' rest. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Cunningham at 33 and Beasley at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Stewart (2 straight). 5 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 109 a night to Detroit's 121 and the glass, where New York has been plus-1 a night and Detroit minus-6. Call it New York 116, Detroit 113, Detroit keeping it close.
4/21 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Towns at 27 and Brunson at 26 a game. One day's rest. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Cunningham at 32 and Beasley at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 112 a night to Detroit's 124 and the arc, Detroit at 40 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it New York 118, Detroit 113.
4/24 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 32 and Beasley at 17 a game. Without Fontecchio (2 straight). 2 days' rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and Towns at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Achiuwa (2 straight), Tucker (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-4 a night and New York minus-6 and the defense, New York allowing 108 a night to Detroit's 118. Call it Detroit 114, New York 112, New York keeping it close.
4/04 @ SAS 114-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 114-113. CLE shot 47% (41 of 87) to SAS's 44%, 22 of 51 from three. Mitchell led with 26 (8 of 18, 6 of 11 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Mobley added 25, Garland 19. The hinge was Q1, 38-28: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 23.
4/06 vs SAC 113-120 — CLE notes
CLE lost 113-120. CLE shot 52% (46 of 88) to SAC's 54%, 10 of 38 from three. Jerome led with 20 (9 of 13, 1 of 4 from three); Mitchell added 19, Allen 17. Q2 was theirs, 30-25, turning a 4-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 95-83 against them. Hunter's -28 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/08 vs CHI 135-113 — CLE notes
CLE won 135-113. CLE shot 51% (51 of 100) to CHI's 48%, 25 of 50 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CHI's 19. CLE turned it over 12 times to CHI's 20. Garland led with 28 (10 of 17, 6 of 10 from three); Mobley added 21, Jerome 18. The hinge was Q2, 43-24: a lead of 1 became 20, and the lead reached 27. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/10 @ IND 112-114 — CLE notes
CLE lost 112-114. CLE shot 44% (43 of 98) to IND's 46%, 17 of 37 from three, and got to the line 13 times to IND's 20. Jerome led with 24 (9 of 16, 4 of 6 from three); Hunter added 23, Porter Jr. 16. Q2 was theirs, 33-24, turning a 5-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 90-79 against them. They led by as many as 11. Green's -14 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/11 @ NYK 108-102 — CLE notes
CLE won 108-102. CLE shot 49% (38 of 77) to NYK's 41%, 11 of 31 from three, and went to the line 30 times to NYK's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. CLE turned it over 15 times to NYK's 8, and NYK turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 49-35 for them. Garland led with 26 (10 of 17, 1 of 5 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Strus added 19, Mobley 16. The hinge was Q4, 30-16: CLE came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 6. CLE trailed 50-62 at the half and won the second half 58-40. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/13 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jerome at 21 and Garland at 20 a game. Without Mitchell (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Turner at 19 and Siakam at 19 a game. Without Sheppard (4 straight), Isa. Jackson (75 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Indiana takes 30 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Indiana's 34. Call it Cleveland 118, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
4/20 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 21 and Jerome at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Mitchell (4 straight), Hunter (2 straight), Jerome (2 straight). 6 days' rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Adebayo at 24 and Herro at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Jović (27 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 15 times a game to Miami's 11. Call it Cleveland 117, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.
4/23 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Garland at 27 and Jerome at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 23 and Adebayo at 22 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 117, Miami 113, Miami keeping it close.
4/26 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Adebayo at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Rozier (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Garland at 25 and Jerome at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 21 free throws a game to Miami's 16 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to Miami's 117. Call it Cleveland 115, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NYKCP C. Payne
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
MR M. Robinson
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
JG J. Green
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
NYK/CLE 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
Garland rallies Cavs to 108-102 win over No. 3 seed Knicks, who finish 0-8 vs East's top 2 teams
NEW YORK -- — Darius Garland scored 13 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers ' comeback from 23 points down for a 108-102 victory Friday night over the New York Knicks , who finished 0-8 against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks were locked into the No. 3 seed in the East during the game when the Indiana Pacers , resting all five starters, were routed by the Orlando Magic to end their hopes of passing New York.
But no matter where the Knicks finished, they look a step below the teams above them. The top-seeded Cavaliers completed a four-game sweep, just as the No. 2 Boston Celtics did with their overtime victory at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
The Cavaliers played without All-Star Donovan Mitchell and key reserves Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter, but went with their other four starters.
Jalen Brunson scored 27 points for the Knicks, who rested All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns but otherwise had their regular starting lineup in their third straight loss.
The Knicks made 10 of their first 13 3-point attempts to open a 48-25 lead in the first half, but the Cavaliers outscored them 30-16 in the fourth quarter.
Takeaways Cavaliers: Coach Kenny Atkinson said he believed that Mitchell, officially listed out for the third straight game with a sprained left ankle, would have been able to play Friday if the game mattered and said he would be ready to go for the playoff opener on April 20.
Knicks: The Knicks will have enough trouble with first-round opponent Detroit, the No. 6 seed that won the series 3-1, before worrying about the record against Cleveland or Boston.
Key moment Garland scored all Cleveland's points in an 11-6 surge that turned a three-point deficit into a 97-95 edge.
Key stat Cleveland is 16-4 in its last 20 games in the regular season in Madison Square Garden, though lost both in the Knicks’ victory in the first round of the 2023 playoffs.
Up next Cleveland faces Indiana again on Sunday. The Knicks will be in Brooklyn.