Game ID: 22400830
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ORL 16 27 23 16 82CLE 34 23 35 30 122
CLE @ ORL ScoutingCLE @ 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.
ORL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 2 since 2/08, returns tonight: 10 min (73% of 14)
OUT Joseph missed 3 since 2/06, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 13)
OUT Houstan missed 2 since 2/08, returns tonight: 12 min (90% of 13)
OUT Howard missed 2 since 2/08, returns tonight: 26 min (222% of 12)
ORL availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restBACK Queen back 2/05 after 2, 9 min since (68% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 2/05 after 5, 4 min since (28% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 2/05 after 2, 9 min since (66% of 13)
BACK Howard back 2/12 after 2, 26 min since (222% of 12)
ORL availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backBACK Queen back 2/12 after 2, 10 min since (73% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 2/12 after 3, 3 min since (19% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 2/12 after 2, 12 min since (90% of 13)
BACK Howard back 2/12 after 2, 26 min since (222% of 12)
NEW Anthony 18 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Queen missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 6 min (43% of 14)
OUT Joseph missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 6 min (45% of 13)
OUT Houstan missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 10 min (74% of 13)
BACK Howard back 2/12 after 2, 19 min since (164% of 12)
NEW Anthony 18 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Queen back 2/12 after 2, 8 min since (58% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 2/12 after 3, 4 min since (32% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 2/12 after 2, 11 min since (82% of 13)
BACK Howard back 2/12 after 2, 16 min since (138% of 12)
NEW Anthony 18 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restBACK Queen back 2/12 after 2, 8 min since (54% of 14)
BACK Joseph back 2/12 after 3, 4 min since (32% of 13)
BACK Houstan back 2/12 after 2, 9 min since (70% of 13)
BACK Howard back 2/12 after 2, 16 min since (138% of 12)
NEW Anthony 18 to 26 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/02 · 2 days' restOUT Joseph missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 10 min (76% of 13)
BACK Queen back 2/23 after 2, 6 min since (44% of 14)
BACK Houstan back 2/23 after 2, 8 min since (61% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 27 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Houstan missed 2 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Joseph back 2/23 after 2, 8 min since (60% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Harris missed 3 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Queen missed 3 since 2/27, out tonight
OUT Houstan missed 3 since 2/27, returns tonight: 8 min (56% of 13)
BACK Joseph back 2/23 after 2, 14 min since (105% of 13)
NEW Anthony 18 to 23 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 9 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 13 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
NEW Merrill 20 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Wade missed 10 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 14 since 1/18, returns tonight: 17 min (91% of 18)
NEW Merrill 20 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 11 since 1/25, returns tonight: 15 min (72% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 17 min since (91% of 18)
NEW Merrill 20 to 27 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 15 min since (72% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 18 min since (95% of 18)
CLE availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 16 min since (79% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 18 min since (98% of 18)
CLE availability going into 2/28 · 2 days' restOUT Garland missed 2 since 2/23, returns tonight: 32 min (103% of 31)
BACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 17 min since (84% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 19 min since (105% of 18)
CLE availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restBACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 32 min since (103% of 31)
BACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 18 min since (86% of 20)
BACK Okoro back 2/20 after 14, 18 min since (97% of 18)
CLE availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 35 min since (115% of 31)
BACK Wade back 2/21 after 11, 18 min since (89% of 20)
CLE availability going into 3/05 · back-to-backOUT Tomlin missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Garland back 2/28 after 2, 34 min since (110% of 31)
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 107 a night and allowing 100, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Wagner at 25 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-13 a night and Orlando plus-3 and the defense, Orlando allowing 100 a night to Cleveland's 108. Call it Cleveland 113, Orlando 109, Orlando keeping it close.
2/12 vs CHA 102-86 — ORL notes
ORL won 102-86. ORL shot 41% (37 of 90) to CHA's 40%, 14 of 43 from three. Banchero led with 24 (8 of 20, 4 of 9 from three); Black added 18, Wagner 16. The hinge was Q3, 33-19: ORL came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 21. ORL trailed 44-46 at the half and won the second half 58-40. Carter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/20 @ ATL 114-108 — ORL notes
ORL won 114-108. ORL shot 48% (41 of 85) to ATL's 39%, 6 of 25 from three, and went to the line 38 times to ATL's 28 — 26 points from the stripe to their 19. Banchero led with 36 (11 of 25, 3 of 10 from three, 11 of 16 at the line); Wagner added 25, Anthony 17. The hinge was Q2, 38-25: ORL came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 1. Banchero was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
2/21 vs MEM 104-105 — ORL notes
ORL lost 104-105. ORL shot 41% (36 of 88) to MEM's 41%, 9 of 31 from three. Wagner led with 25 (9 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Banchero added 21, Anthony 17. Q2 was theirs, 31-24, the deficit cut from 7 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 81-73 against them. They led by as many as 19.
2/23 vs WAS 110-90 — ORL notes
ORL won 110-90. ORL shot 44% (40 of 90) to WAS's 41%, 11 of 32 from three. ORL turned it over 13 times to WAS's 20. The glass went 47-36 for them. Wagner led with 23 (11 of 22, 1 of 7 from three); Black added 23, Banchero 19. The hinge was Q3, 32-17: a lead of 2 became 17, and the lead reached 26. Wagner was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
2/25 vs CLE 82-122 — ORL notes
ORL lost 82-122. ORL took 10 more shots (90 to 80), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 37% to CLE's 56%, 5 of 28 from three. The glass went 35-47 against them. Banchero led with 26 (9 of 22, 1 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Wagner added 19. Q2 was theirs, 27-23, the deficit cut from 18 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 99-55 against them. da Silva's -26 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/27 vs GSW — 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 102 a night and allowing 102, shooting 42 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and Wagner at 22 a game. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Butler III at 16 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Kuminga (24 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 34 percent from three to Orlando's 28 and the line, where Orlando takes 25 free throws a game to Golden State's 20. Call it Golden State 109, Orlando 106, Orlando keeping it close.
3/02 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 29 and Wagner at 24 a game. 2 days' rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Barnes at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Rhoden (3 straight), Lawson (3 straight), Battle (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 35 percent from three to Orlando's 29 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 15 times a game to Orlando's 12. Call it Orlando 111, Toronto 108, Toronto keeping it close.
3/04 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Banchero at 26 and Wagner at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Harris (2 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barrett at 20 and Quickley at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Rhoden (4 straight), Battle (6 straight), Boucher (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-5 a night and Orlando minus-0. Call it Orlando 110, Toronto 107, Toronto keeping it close.
3/06 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 30 and Wagner at 24 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Harris (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; White at 22 and Giddey at 21 a game. Without Vučević (5 straight), Huerter (2 straight), Williams (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 110 a night to Chicago's 123. Call it Orlando 114, Chicago 113, Chicago keeping it close.
2/12 @ TOR 131-108 — CLE notes
CLE won 131-108. CLE shot 48% (48 of 99) to TOR's 46%, 18 of 53 from three. The glass went 53-39 for them. Mitchell led with 21 (6 of 16, 2 of 9 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Hunter added 18, Merrill 16. The hinge was Q1, 41-17: from level to 24 ahead, and the lead reached 39. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
2/20 @ BKN 110-97 — CLE notes
CLE won 110-97. CLE shot 43% (40 of 94) to BKN's 40%, 11 of 39 from three, and went to the line 27 times to BKN's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 11. Mitchell led with 26 (8 of 21, 3 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Mobley added 18, Garland 18. The hinge was Q3, 35-27: CLE came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 21. CLE trailed 48-50 at the half and won the second half 62-47. Merrill was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/21 vs NYK 142-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 142-105. CLE shot 61% (56 of 92) to NYK's 47%, 19 of 37 from three. The glass went 47-32 for them. Mitchell led with 27 (10 of 15, 5 of 7 from three); Mobley added 21, Jerome 19. The hinge was Q2, 36-21: a lead of 12 became 27, and the lead reached 42. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/23 vs MEM 129-123 — CLE notes
CLE won 129-123. CLE shot 46% (46 of 99) to MEM's 46%, 13 of 47 from three. The glass went 57-37 for them. Mitchell led with 33 (11 of 23, 4 of 8 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Jerome added 26, Mobley 25. The hinge was Q1, 33-29: from level to 4 ahead. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
2/25 @ ORL 122-82 — CLE notes
CLE won 122-82. CLE shot 56% (45 of 80) to ORL's 37%, 19 of 32 from three. The glass went 47-35 for them. Jerome led with 20 (7 of 12, 4 of 6 from three); Mobley added 17, Hunter 17. The hinge was Q1, 34-16: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 42. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/28 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 14 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Brown at 23 a game. Without Kornet (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Garland (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-14 a night and Boston plus-2 and the line, where Cleveland takes 23 free throws a game to Boston's 14. Call it Cleveland 115, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
3/02 vs POR — 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 125 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sharpe at 21 and Simons at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Ayton (6 straight), Thybulle (60 straight), Williams III (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-12 a night and Portland plus-1 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 17 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 118, Portland 111.
3/04 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Giddey at 21 and White at 21 a game. Without Vučević (4 straight), Williams (6 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-10 a night and Chicago minus-2 and the arc, Cleveland at 43 percent from three to Chicago's 36. Call it Cleveland 121, Chicago 117, Chicago keeping it close.
3/05 vs MIA — 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 129 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Mobley at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Herro at 20 and Adebayo at 20 a game. Without Wiggins (3 straight), Jović (5 straight), Jaquez Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Miami minus-0 and the line, where Cleveland takes 28 free throws a game to Miami's 19. Call it Cleveland 118, Miami 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
JG J. Green
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
NT N. Tomlin
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
CH C. Houstan
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
GH G. Harris
JH J. Howard
JI J. Isaac
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
PB P. Banchero
TQ T. Queen
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
Cavaliers rout Magic 122-82 for their 8th straight win
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Ty Jerome scored 20 points in 21 minutes, and the Cleveland Cavaliers routed the Orlando Magic 122-82 on Tuesday night for their eighth consecutive win.
Max Strus , Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter each scored 17 points. Strus made five 3-pointers, helping the Cavaliers go 19 for 32 from beyond the arc.
Cleveland shot 56.3% overall while improving to an NBA-best 48-10.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 26 points. Franz Wagner added 19 points for the Magic, who shot 5 for 28 on 3-pointers.
Takeaways Cavaliers: The Cavs, who lost all three of their first-round playoff games in Orlando in April, matched their victory total from all of last season. Playing without All-Star guard Darius Garland because of a left hip contusion, they improved to 21-6 on the road.
Magic: Guard Cole Anthony departed with a hyperextended left knee in the third quarter.
Key moment Jerome hit two 3-pointers in a span of 28 seconds in the second quarter, stretching Cleveland's lead to 45-22.
Key stat In three playoff losses in Orlando 10 months ago, the Cavs shot 24.1 % from 3-point range and averaged 89.3 points.
Up next The Cavaliers are at Boston on Friday night. The Magic host Golden State on Thursday.