Game ID: 22400735
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards
Friday, February 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
WAS 33 34 26 31 124CLE 35 29 30 40 134
CLE @ WAS ScoutingCLE @ WAS 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.
WAS availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Brogdon missed 13 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 5 since 1/21, returns tonight: 17 min (154% of 11)
BACK Holmes back 1/27 after 8, 13 min since (77% of 17)
WAS availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Brogdon missed 14 since 1/07, returns tonight: 21 min (90% of 24)
BACK Holmes back 1/27 after 8, 14 min since (80% of 17)
BACK Butler back 1/30 after 5, 17 min since (154% of 11)
WAS availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 2/01 after 14, 21 min since (90% of 24)
BACK Holmes back 1/27 after 8, 15 min since (86% of 17)
BACK Butler back 1/30 after 5, 17 min since (154% of 11)
WAS availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 4 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 2 since 2/01, returns tonight: 19 min (127% of 15)
BACK Brogdon back 2/01 after 14, 21 min since (91% of 24)
BACK Holmes back 1/27 after 8, 16 min since (91% of 17)
BACK Butler back 1/30 after 5, 17 min since (154% of 11)
WAS availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 5 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 2/01 after 14, 20 min since (84% of 24)
BACK Vukcevic back 2/05 after 2, 19 min since (127% of 15)
BACK Butler back 1/30 after 5, 17 min since (154% of 11)
WAS availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Sarr missed 6 since 1/29, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 2/01 after 14, 20 min since (84% of 24)
BACK Vukcevic back 2/05 after 2, 18 min since (120% of 15)
BACK Butler back 1/30 after 5, 17 min since (154% of 11)
NEW Valančiūnas 20 to 26 min over the last 3
WAS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 7 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Middleton missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Brogdon back 2/01 after 14, 21 min since (88% of 24)
BACK Vukcevic back 2/05 after 2, 16 min since (113% of 15)
NEW Holmes 17 to 25 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Sarr missed 8 since 1/29, returns tonight: 32 min (117% of 27)
OUT Middleton missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Vukcevic back 2/05 after 2, 17 min since (119% of 15)
NEW Holmes 17 to 27 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 2/21 · 8 days' restOUT Jones missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Middleton missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 24 min (111% of 22)
OUT Martin missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Sarr back 2/12 after 8, 32 min since (117% of 27)
BACK Vukcevic back 2/05 after 2, 14 min since (98% of 15)
NEW Carrington 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW George 26 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW Holmes 17 to 27 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT LeVert missed 6 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 3 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 7 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 29 min since (96% of 31)
NEW Jerome 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/02 · 2 days' restOUT LeVert missed 7 since 1/20, returns tonight: 23 min (98% of 24)
OUT Wade missed 4 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 8 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 29 min since (94% of 31)
NEW Jerome 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 5 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 9 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 1/25 after 4, 28 min since (91% of 31)
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 23 min since (98% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 6 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 10 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (84% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 7 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 11 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
CLE availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restOUT Wade missed 8 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 12 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 2/02 after 7, 20 min since (85% of 24)
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
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 21 and Kispert at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Sarr (5 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Wade (7 straight), Okoro (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 39 percent from three to Washington's 33 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-6 a night and Washington plus-1. Call it Cleveland 119, Washington 110.
1/30 vs LAL 96-134 — WAS notes
WAS lost 96-134. WAS shot 32% (29 of 91) to LAL's 54%, 10 of 44 from three, and went to the line 34 times to LAL's 22 — 28 points from the stripe to their 21. The glass went 38-48 against them. Poole led with 19 (5 of 15, 3 of 10 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Kuzma added 13, Kispert 11. Q3 was theirs, 25-27, but the other 3 periods went 107-71 against them. George's -35 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/01 @ MIN 105-103 — WAS notes
WAS won 105-103. WAS shot 46% (38 of 83) to MIN's 41%, 15 of 33 from three. Kuzma led with 31 (13 of 24, 5 of 10 from three); Poole added 19, Coulibaly 14. The hinge was Q3, 25-20: a lead of 1 became 6. George was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/03 @ CHA 124-114 — WAS notes
WAS won 124-114. WAS shot 44% (44 of 99) to CHA's 44%, 17 of 51 from three. Coulibaly led with 26 (9 of 16, 4 of 8 from three); Kispert added 25, Kuzma 22. The hinge was Q2, 46-25: a lead of 2 became 23, and the lead reached 26. Champagnie was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/05 @ BKN 119-102 — WAS notes
WAS won 119-102. WAS shot 54% (44 of 81) to BKN's 43%, 20 of 43 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BKN's 23. Poole led with 19 (6 of 15, 3 of 10 from three); George added 17, Kispert 17. The hinge was Q3, 23-12: a lead of 4 became 15, and the lead reached 25. Coulibaly was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/07 vs CLE 124-134 — WAS notes
WAS lost 124-134. WAS shot 49% (46 of 94) to CLE's 51%, 16 of 44 from three. Poole led with 45 (16 of 32, 4 of 17 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); George added 17, Coulibaly 16. Q2 was theirs, 34-29, turning a 2-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 105-90 against them. Carrington's -25 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/08 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 22 a game. Without Sarr (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Hunter at 18 a game. Without Johnson (8 straight), Capela (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the defense, Washington allowing 117 a night to Atlanta's 127. Call it Washington 119, Atlanta 118, Atlanta keeping it close.
2/10 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Coulibaly at 17 a game. Without Sarr (7 straight), Middleton (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Fox at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Washington has been plus-3 a night and San Antonio minus-7. Call it Washington 116, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
2/12 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Coulibaly at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Sarr (8 straight), Middleton (3 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Mathurin at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Turner (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (46 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Washington has been plus-3 a night and Indiana minus-11 and the arc, Washington at 34 percent from three to Indiana's 28. Call it Washington 117, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
2/21 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Poole at 29 and Carrington at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Jones (2 straight), Middleton (4 straight), Martin (2 straight). 8 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Lillard at 30 and Kuzma at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Washington has been plus-2 a night and Milwaukee minus-4 and the defense, Milwaukee allowing 116 a night to Washington's 125. Call it Milwaukee 118, Washington 116, Washington keeping it close.
1/30 vs ATL 137-115 — CLE notes
CLE won 137-115. CLE shot 58% (53 of 91) to ATL's 46%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 20 times to ATL's 27. The glass went 49-36 for them. Garland led with 26 (11 of 20, 2 of 6 from three); Mitchell added 24, Jerome 20. The hinge was Q3, 39-21: a lead of 8 became 26, and the lead reached 29. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/02 vs DAL 144-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 144-101. CLE shot 57% (53 of 93) to DAL's 39%, 26 of 45 from three. Merrill led with 27 (9 of 14, 9 of 13 from three); Mobley added 22, Garland 17. The hinge was Q1, 50-19: from level to 31 ahead, and the lead reached 53. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +47.
2/04 vs BOS 105-112 — CLE notes
CLE lost 105-112. CLE shot 40% (36 of 91) to BOS's 41%, 11 of 39 from three, and went to the line 26 times to BOS's 18 — 22 points from the stripe to their 15. Mitchell led with 31 (12 of 25, 4 of 14 from three); Garland added 25, Allen 17. Q4 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 12 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 87-75 against them. LeVert's -23 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/05 @ DET 118-115 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-115. CLE shot 48% (41 of 85) to DET's 40%, 16 of 38 from three. CLE turned it over 23 times to DET's 11, and DET turned those into 13 steals. Mobley led with 30 (10 of 16, 3 of 5 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Garland added 25, Porter Jr. 16. The hinge was Q1, 34-26: from level to 8 ahead. Jerome was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/07 @ WAS 134-124 — CLE notes
CLE won 134-124. CLE shot 51% (48 of 94) to WAS's 49%, 16 of 38 from three. Mitchell led with 33 (12 of 26, 4 of 11 from three); Mobley added 27, Garland 23. The hinge was Q4, 40-31: a lead of 1 became 10, and the lead reached 16. CLE trailed 64-67 at the half and won the second half 70-57. Mobley was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
2/10 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Wade (8 straight), Okoro (12 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 37 and McDaniels at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Randle (5 straight), DiVincenzo (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 41 percent from three to Minnesota's 36. Call it Cleveland 118, Minnesota 112.
2/12 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Barnes at 21 and Quickley at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Barrett (5 straight), Poeltl (4 straight), Lawson (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Wade (9 straight), Okoro (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-4 a night and Toronto minus-9 and the arc, Cleveland at 42 percent from three to Toronto's 33. Call it Cleveland 120, Toronto 110, Cleveland by 10.
2/20 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 97, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 16 and K. Johnson at 14 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thomas (20 straight), Clowney (7 straight). 7 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Wade (10 straight), Okoro (14 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Brooklyn allowing 97 a night to Cleveland's 113 and the arc, Cleveland at 37 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it Cleveland 112, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
2/21 vs NYK — 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 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Mobley at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Wade (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Brunson at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Anunoby (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to New York's 124 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-7 a night and New York minus-1. Call it Cleveland 122, New York 115.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
EB E. Bates
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
MS M. Strus
TJ T. Jerome
TT T. Thompson
WASAG A. Gill
AJ A. Johnson
BC B. Carrington
BC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
JP J. Poole
KG K. George
RH R. Holmes
TV T. Vukcevic
CLE/WAS 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
Mitchell and Mobley help Cavaliers pull away from Wizards, 134-124
WASHINGTON -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, Evan Mobley added 27 and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away late for a 134-124 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
Darius Garland added 23 points and Jarrett Allen had 12 points and 12 rebounds to help the Eastern Conference leaders win for the sixth time in their last seven games.
Jordan Poole scored a career-high 45 points for the NBA-worst Wizards, who were trying to extend a season-best winning streak to four games.
Richaun Holmes had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Washington, which lost its 12th straight to the Cavaliers.
Takeaways Cavaliers: Despite Washington's record, this was a gutty win for Cleveland after dealing regulars Caris LeVert and Georges Niang to Atlanta to acquire guard De'Andre Hunter . The move left the Cavs short-handed for a game, compounded by the absence of reserve guard Sam Merrill for personal reasons.
Wizards: This was still a strong effort despite the end of a three-game winning streak, and a potential sign of improvement. Washington hasn't won four in a row since January 2023.
Key moment After 17 ties and 19 lead changes in the first three quarters, Mitchell scored Cleveland's first five points of the fourth on a three-point play and then a driving finger roll to stretch the lead to six and force Washington to take a timeout. The Wizards did not get within a single possession afterward.
Key stat Poole's 16 field goals and 32 shots were both team highs for Washington this season. They came in the second game since the Wizards agreed to trade second-leading scorer Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee in a deal that returned Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson .
Up Next The Wizards host Atlanta on Saturday night, while the Cavaliers return home Monday night to face Minnesota.