Game ID: 22401021
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Phoenix Suns
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
PHX Arena, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 35 27 36 25 123CLE 34 17 28 33 112
CLE @ PHX ScoutingCLE @ PHX 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.
PHX availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Morris missed 14 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 6 min since (33% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (166% of 17)
PHX availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Richards missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 19 min (85% of 23)
OUT Morris missed 15 since 2/11, out tonight
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 13 min since (68% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 30 min since (177% of 17)
PHX availability going into 3/17 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 3 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 16 since 2/11, returns tonight: 6 min (43% of 13)
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 19 min since (85% of 23)
BACK Dunn back 3/09 after 2, 15 min since (79% of 19)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (163% of 17)
PHX availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 4 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 16 min since (69% of 23)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (161% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/17 after 16, 6 min since (43% of 13)
PHX availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 5 since 3/12, out tonight
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 20 min since (87% of 23)
BACK Ighodaro back 3/12 after 4, 26 min since (152% of 17)
BACK Morris back 3/17 after 16, 6 min since (43% of 13)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restOUT Beal missed 3 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 6 since 3/12, returns tonight: 12 min (49% of 24)
OUT Plumlee missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 20 min since (87% of 23)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 20 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 4 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 3 since 3/19, returns tonight: 11 min (61% of 18)
OUT Morris missed 3 since 3/19, returns tonight: 6 min (48% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 3 since 3/19, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 12 min since (49% of 24)
BACK Richards back 3/16 after 2, 22 min since (97% of 23)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 22 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/28 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 5 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 13 min since (54% of 24)
BACK Plumlee back 3/26 after 3, 11 min since (61% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/17 after 16, 6 min since (46% of 13)
BACK Bol back 3/26 after 3, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 21 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Beal missed 6 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/24 after 6, 13 min since (53% of 24)
BACK Plumlee back 3/26 after 3, 11 min since (61% of 18)
BACK Morris back 3/26 after 3, 6 min since (48% of 13)
BACK Bol back 3/26 after 3, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Ighodaro 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gillespie 14 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/14 · 2 days' restOUT Tomlin missed 7 since 2/28, out tonight
CLE availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 34 min (109% of 32)
OUT Tomlin missed 8 since 2/28, out tonight
CLE availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 9 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 34 min since (109% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT Tomlin missed 10 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 34 min since (107% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 11 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 34 min since (107% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 12 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 33 min since (105% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 13 since 2/28, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/16 after 2, 31 min since (97% of 32)
CLE availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 14 since 2/28, out tonight
CLE availability going into 3/28 · back-to-backOUT Tomlin missed 15 since 2/28, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Beal (2 straight), Allen (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mobley at 23 and Mitchell at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 32 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Cleveland minus-3. Call it Phoenix 116, Cleveland 115, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/14 vs SAC 122-106 — PHX notes
PHX won 122-106. PHX shot 52% (41 of 79) to SAC's 49%, 24 of 43 from three. PHX turned it over 11 times to SAC's 19. Booker led with 22 (8 of 17, 4 of 10 from three); Durant added 22, Jones 20. The hinge was Q1, 36-22: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Ighodaro was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/16 @ LAL 96-107 — PHX notes
PHX lost 96-107. PHX took 8 more shots (89 to 81), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to LAL's 43%, 9 of 41 from three, and got to the line 21 times to LAL's 32. PHX turned it over 14 times to LAL's 8. The glass went 51-40 for them. Durant led with 21 (6 of 17, 2 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Booker added 19, Dunn 13. Q3 was theirs, 34-29, the deficit cut from 17 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 78-62 against them. Booker's -13 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 vs TOR 129-89 — PHX notes
PHX won 129-89. PHX shot 51% (47 of 92) to TOR's 36%, 20 of 39 from three, and got to the line 15 times to TOR's 23. The glass went 54-40 for them. Booker led with 27 (8 of 15, 3 of 6 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Dunn added 17, Jones 15. The hinge was Q2, 39-11: PHX came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 23, and the lead reached 40. Ighodaro was the night's best plus/minus at +39.
3/19 vs CHI 127-121 — PHX notes
PHX won 127-121. PHX shot 49% (47 of 96) to CHI's 54%, 15 of 40 from three, and went to the line 20 times to CHI's 12 — 18 points from the stripe to their 8. Booker led with 41 (14 of 26, 6 of 12 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Durant added 26, Richards 18. The hinge was Q1, 31-22: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/21 vs CLE 123-112 — PHX notes
PHX won 123-112. PHX shot 52% (48 of 92) to CLE's 45%, 19 of 42 from three, and got to the line 8 times to CLE's 14. Durant led with 42 (17 of 29, 4 of 9 from three); Booker added 17, Jones 16. The hinge was Q2, 27-17: a lead of 1 became 11, and the lead reached 21. Ighodaro was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/24 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Durant at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Beal (3 straight), Allen (6 straight), Plumlee (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 27 and Lillard at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Lillard (2 straight), Portis (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-5 a night and Milwaukee minus-6 and the line, where Milwaukee takes 28 free throws a game to Phoenix's 17. Call it Phoenix 115, Milwaukee 111, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/26 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Beal (4 straight), Plumlee (3 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Porziņģis at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-10 a night and Boston plus-2 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 113, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/28 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 15 a game. 3 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Beal (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Phoenix's 16 and the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota minus-1. Call it Minnesota 117, Phoenix 112.
3/30 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Booker at 20 a game. Without Beal (6 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Whitmore (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Phoenix's 16 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Phoenix plus-1. Call it Houston 114, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/14 @ MEM 133-124 — CLE notes
CLE won 133-124. CLE shot 50% (44 of 88) to MEM's 49%, 19 of 51 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MEM's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 17. Mobley led with 22 (9 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Garland added 20, Hunter 18. The hinge was Q2, 39-29: a lead of 7 became 17, and the lead reached 25. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/16 vs ORL 103-108 — CLE notes
CLE lost 103-108. CLE took 15 more shots (96 to 81), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to ORL's 42%, 10 of 40 from three, and got to the line 20 times to ORL's 34. Mitchell led with 23 (9 of 28, 3 of 14 from three); Allen added 20, Garland 19. Q1 was theirs, 38-25, but the other 3 periods went 83-65 against them. They led by as many as 13. Jerome's -9 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 @ LAC 119-132 — CLE notes
CLE lost 119-132. CLE shot 49% (44 of 90) to LAC's 55%, 14 of 41 from three. The glass went 29-49 against them. Strus led with 24 (8 of 12, 5 of 8 from three); Mitchell added 18, Garland 17. Q1 was theirs, 45-37, but the other 3 periods went 95-74 against them. They led by as many as 12. Mobley's -27 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 @ SAC 119-123 — CLE notes
CLE lost 119-123. CLE shot 55% (46 of 84) to SAC's 51%, 13 of 34 from three. Mobley led with 31 (13 of 18, 4 of 5 from three); Mitchell added 26, Jerome 14. Q1 was theirs, 22-15, but the other 3 periods went 108-97 against them. They led by as many as 13.
3/21 @ PHX 112-123 — CLE notes
CLE lost 112-123. CLE shot 45% (42 of 94) to PHX's 52%, 17 of 45 from three, and went to the line 14 times to PHX's 8 — 11 points from the stripe to their 8. Garland led with 18 (8 of 16, 2 of 5 from three); Hunter added 17, Mobley 16. Q4 was theirs, 33-25, the deficit cut from 19 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 98-79 against them. Wade's -14 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sexton at 20 and George at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Collins (5 straight), Martin (4 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mobley at 22 and Garland at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 18 times a game to Cleveland's 12. Call it Cleveland 119, Utah 115, Utah keeping it close.
3/25 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Avdija at 24 and Simons at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Grant (7 straight), Ayton (18 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mobley at 19 and Mitchell at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Cleveland minus-5 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 10. Call it Portland 115, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/27 vs SAS — 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 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mobley at 19 and Garland at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Castle at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-6 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 14 times a game to Cleveland's 10. Call it Cleveland 119, San Antonio 113.
3/28 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Cunningham at 28 and Sasser at 17 a game. Without Cunningham (2 straight), Smith (11 straight), Harper Jr. (23 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mobley at 20 and Mitchell at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the arc, Detroit at 41 percent from three to Cleveland's 35 and the line, where Detroit takes 26 free throws a game to Cleveland's 20. Call it Detroit 118, Cleveland 114, Cleveland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLEDG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
JG J. Green
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
TJ T. Jerome
PHXCG C. Gillespie
CM C. Martin
DB D. Booker
KD K. Durant
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
CLE/PHX 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
Durant scores 42 points, Suns hand Cavaliers 4th straight loss 123-112
PHOENIX -- — Kevin Durant scored 42 points and the Phoenix Suns defeated the suddenly struggling Cleveland Cavaliers 123-112 on Friday night.
It was the Suns’ third straight win and kept them in a tie with Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West at 34-37.
Devin Booker scored 17 points and Tyus Jones scored 16. Royce O'Neale had 15 points on five 3-pointers for Phoenix.
Cleveland, which saw its 16-game winning streak snapped by Orlando on Sunday , has now lost a season-high four in a row to fall two games behind Oklahoma City for the NBA’s best record. Their 56-14 mark still leads the East comfortably.
Darius Garland scored 18 points for Cleveland. Evan Mobley had 16 points and 12 rebounds and former Sun Ty Jerome also scored 16 for the Cavs. All-Star Donovan Mitchell scored just seven points.
The Suns were without Bradley Beal (hamstring) and their top two centers, Nick Richards (calf) and Mason Plumlee (quad). Third-stringer Oso Ighodaro played a game-high 44 minutes and had a team-high 13 rebounds.
Takeaways Cavaliers: Cleveland looked out of sync most of the night and continued to struggle on their five-game West Coast swing after losses at the Clippers and Kings.
Suns: A critical win in a mostly disappointing season for Phoenix as they try to qualify for the play-in round in the West. The Suns have 11 games remaining and all but one are against teams currently in playoff position.
Key moment O’Neale hit consecutive 3-pointers early in the second quarter to put the Suns ahead 47-38 and they maintained the lead from then on. They led 62-51 at the half.
Key stat Mitchell missed his first seven shots from the field and was 2 of 18 for the game, missing all eight tries from 3-point range.
Up next Cavaliers at Utah on Sunday; Suns host Milwaukee on Monday.