Game ID: 22501158
Atlanta Hawks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 33 27 44 18 122ATL 29 38 20 29 116
ATL @ CLE ScoutingATL @ CLE 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.
CLE availability going into 3/31 · back-to-backOUT Tyson missed 5 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 18 min since (66% of 28)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 15 min since (92% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 8 min since (77% of 10)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Tyson missed 6 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 4 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 18 min since (66% of 28)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 8 min since (66% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 9 min since (87% of 10)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/05 · 2 days' restOUT Tyson missed 7 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 5 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 20 min since (73% of 28)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 8 min since (66% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 9 min since (87% of 10)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/06 · back-to-backOUT Tyson missed 8 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 6 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 20 min since (73% of 28)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 18 min since (108% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 13 min since (103% of 12)
NEW Ellis 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 19 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Tyson missed 9 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 7 since 3/25, returns tonight: 21 min (95% of 22)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 20 min since (120% of 16)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Nance Jr. 12 to 18 min over the last 3
NEW Bryant 11 to 21 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Tyson missed 10 since 3/21, returns tonight: 24 min (101% of 24)
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Wade back 4/08 after 7, 21 min since (95% of 22)
NEW Ellis 20 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Nance Jr. 12 to 18 min over the last 3
CLE availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Bryant missed 3 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Tyson back 4/10 after 10, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Wade back 4/08 after 7, 19 min since (86% of 22)
NEW Porter Jr. 16 to 22 min over the last 3
NEW Nance Jr. 12 to 20 min over the last 3
CLE availability going into 4/18 · 5 days' restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 31 min (91% of 34)
OUT Allen missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 28 min (103% of 28)
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 4/10, returns tonight: 21 min (83% of 25)
OUT Bryant missed 4 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Tyson back 4/10 after 10, 25 min since (105% of 24)
BACK Wade back 4/08 after 7, 19 min since (86% of 22)
NEW Ellis 20 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Porter Jr. 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Tomlin 14 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Nance Jr. 12 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Proctor 10 to 18 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 4/20 · 1 day's restOUT Bryant missed 5 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 4/18 after 2, 31 min since (91% of 34)
BACK Allen back 4/18 after 2, 28 min since (103% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 4/18 after 2, 21 min since (83% of 25)
BACK Tyson back 4/10 after 10, 21 min since (89% of 24)
BACK Wade back 4/08 after 7, 20 min since (91% of 22)
NEW Tomlin 14 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Proctor 10 to 23 min over the last 3
ATL availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 8 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 14 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 39 min since (109% of 35)
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 9 min since (79% of 11)
NEW Landale 19 to 25 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 9 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 15 since 3/01, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 11)
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 38 min since (108% of 35)
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 9 min since (79% of 11)
NEW Landale 19 to 28 min over the last 3
ATL availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Kispert missed 2 since 3/30, returns tonight: 15 min (87% of 17)
OUT Dennis missed 10 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 3/30, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 11)
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 37 min since (105% of 35)
BACK Newell back 4/01 after 15, 3 min since (25% of 11)
NEW Landale 19 to 26 min over the last 3
ATL availability going into 4/06 · 2 days' restOUT Dennis missed 11 since 3/16, out tonight
BACK Kispert back 4/03 after 2, 15 min since (87% of 17)
BACK Koloko back 3/28 after 2, 8 min since (68% of 11)
BACK Newell back 4/01 after 15, 4 min since (36% of 11)
ATL availability going into 4/08 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 12 since 3/16, out tonight
BACK Kispert back 4/03 after 2, 15 min since (87% of 17)
BACK Koloko back 3/28 after 2, 8 min since (68% of 11)
BACK Newell back 4/01 after 15, 4 min since (36% of 11)
ATL availability going into 4/10 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 13 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 2 since 4/06, returns tonight: 8 min (72% of 11)
BACK Kispert back 4/03 after 2, 11 min since (64% of 17)
ATL availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 14 since 3/16, returns tonight: 27 min (231% of 12)
OUT Koloko missed 3 since 4/06, returns tonight: 21 min (191% of 11)
BACK Kispert back 4/03 after 2, 10 min since (60% of 17)
BACK Newell back 4/01 after 15, 5 min since (48% of 11)
ATL availability going into 4/18 · 5 days' restBACK Kispert back 4/03 after 2, 15 min since (86% of 17)
BACK Dennis back 4/12 after 14, 27 min since (231% of 12)
BACK Koloko back 4/03 after 2, 13 min since (114% of 11)
BACK Newell back 4/10 after 2, 23 min since (211% of 11)
ATL availability going into 4/20 · 1 day's restBACK Dennis back 4/12 after 14, 27 min since (231% of 12)
BACK Koloko back 4/12 after 3, 21 min since (191% of 11)
BACK Newell back 4/10 after 2, 23 min since (211% of 11)
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 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Tyson (9 straight), Wade (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 27 and Johnson at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 42 percent from three to Cleveland's 34 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 106 a night to Cleveland's 117. Call it Cleveland 118, Atlanta 117, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/31 @ LAL 113-127 — CLE notes
CLE lost 113-127. CLE shot 49% (43 of 87) to LAL's 54%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 19 times to LAL's 26. Allen led with 18 (9 of 11); Harden added 17, Bryant 14. Q4 was theirs, 30-17, the deficit cut from 27 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 110-83 against them. Mitchell's -24 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/02 @ GSW 118-111 — CLE notes
CLE won 118-111. CLE shot 51% (42 of 82) to GSW's 44%, 16 of 36 from three, and went to the line 26 times to GSW's 20 — 18 points from the stripe to their 17. Mitchell led with 25 (7 of 14, 4 of 7 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Strus added 24, Harden 19. The hinge was Q1, 30-26: from level to 4 ahead. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/05 vs IND 117-108 — CLE notes
CLE won 117-108. CLE shot 47% (43 of 92) to IND's 38%, 16 of 47 from three, and got to the line 19 times to IND's 29. Mitchell led with 38 (16 of 27, 2 of 7 from three); Harden added 28, Bryant 14. The hinge was Q4, 27-17: CLE came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 15. CLE trailed 55-58 at the half and won the second half 62-50. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
4/06 @ MEM 142-126 — CLE notes
CLE won 142-126. CLE shot 58% (52 of 89) to MEM's 48%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 37 times to MEM's 10 — 26 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 48-31 for them. Mobley led with 24 (9 of 11, 5 of 8 at the line); Schröder added 22, Merrill 21. The hinge was Q2, 44-28: CLE came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 17.
4/08 vs ATL 122-116 — CLE notes
CLE won 122-116. CLE shot 47% (41 of 88) to ATL's 48%, 12 of 33 from three, and went to the line 35 times to ATL's 15 — 28 points from the stripe to their 10. Mitchell led with 31 (12 of 19, 1 of 4 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Mobley added 22, Harden 21. The hinge was Q3, 44-20: CLE came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 17. CLE trailed 60-67 at the half and won the second half 62-49.
4/10 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 26 and Johnson at 18 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Harden at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tyson (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 108 a night to Cleveland's 118 and the line, where Cleveland takes 27 free throws a game to Atlanta's 20. Call it Atlanta 119, Cleveland 116, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/12 vs WAS — 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 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Harden at 22 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 132, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Riley at 20 and Coulibaly at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Johnson (4 straight), Hardy (3 straight), Whitmore (60 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 117 a night to Washington's 132 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-4 a night and Washington minus-3. Call it Cleveland 125, Washington 114, Cleveland by 11.
4/18 vs TOR — 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 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Harden at 23 and Mobley at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Mitchell (2 straight), Allen (2 straight), Merrill (2 straight). 5 days' rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ingram at 23 and Barrett at 20 a game. 5 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Toronto plus-1 and the defense, Toronto allowing 107 a night to Cleveland's 118. Call it Cleveland 117, Toronto 114, Toronto keeping it close.
4/20 vs TOR — 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 124 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 28 free throws a game; Harden at 21 and Mobley at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 53 percent and 44 from three, 27 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Barrett at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 110 a night to Cleveland's 119 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-9 a night and Toronto plus-2. Call it Cleveland 118, Toronto 115, Toronto keeping it close.
3/30 vs BOS 112-102 — ATL notes
ATL won 112-102. ATL shot 47% (43 of 92) to BOS's 41%, 15 of 38 from three, and got to the line 15 times to BOS's 26. Okongwu led with 20 (7 of 14, 4 of 10 from three); Johnson added 20, Daniels 18. The hinge was Q3, 36-22: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Kuminga was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
4/01 @ ORL 130-101 — ATL notes
ATL won 130-101. ATL shot 51% (47 of 92) to ORL's 40%, 15 of 37 from three. The glass went 51-37 for them. Alexander-Walker led with 32 (11 of 16, 5 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Johnson added 18, Okongwu 16. The hinge was Q2, 47-26: ATL came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 18, and the lead reached 31. Alexander-Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
4/03 @ BKN 141-107 — ATL notes
ATL won 141-107. ATL shot 57% (51 of 90) to BKN's 49%, 20 of 39 from three. ATL turned it over 13 times to BKN's 18. McCollum led with 25 (8 of 12, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Alexander-Walker added 21, Johnson 18. The hinge was Q4, 43-22: a lead of 13 became 34. Okongwu was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
4/06 vs NYK 105-108 — ATL notes
ATL lost 105-108. ATL took 11 more shots (95 to 84), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to NYK's 50%, 16 of 42 from three. Alexander-Walker led with 36 (12 of 19, 7 of 11 from three); Johnson added 21, McCollum 17. Q2 was theirs, 26-21, turning a 1-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 87-79 against them. They led by as many as 10. Alexander-Walker's -4 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/08 @ CLE 116-122 — ATL notes
ATL lost 116-122. ATL took 10 more shots (98 to 88), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to CLE's 47%, 12 of 34 from three, and got to the line 15 times to CLE's 35. Alexander-Walker led with 25 (10 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Kuminga added 24, Okongwu 18. Q2 was theirs, 38-27, turning a 4-point deficit into a 7-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 95-78 against them. They led by as many as 11. Okongwu's -33 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/10 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 26 and Johnson at 18 a game. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Harden at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tyson (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 108 a night to Cleveland's 118 and the line, where Cleveland takes 27 free throws a game to Atlanta's 20. Call it Atlanta 119, Cleveland 116, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/12 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 130, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jaquez Jr. at 19 and Adebayo at 19 a game. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 26 and McCollum at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Atlanta allowing 108 a night to Miami's 130 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-5 a night and Miami minus-2. Call it Atlanta 121, Miami 119, Miami keeping it close.
4/18 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 102, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight). 5 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 25 and McCollum at 21 a game. 5 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 102 a night to Atlanta's 116 and the arc, Atlanta at 40 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it New York 117, Atlanta 111.
4/20 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and Towns at 21 a game. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 24 and McCollum at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 104 a night to Atlanta's 118. Call it New York 116, Atlanta 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLEDM D. Mitchell
DS D. Schröder
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JH J. Harden
KE K. Ellis
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
SC Schroder
ATLCM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
GV G. Vincent
JJ J. Johnson
JK J. Kuminga
MG M. Gueye
NA N. Alexander-Walker
OO O. Okongwu
CLE/ATL 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
Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley help Cavaliers hold off Hawks 122-116
CLEVELAND -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Evan Mobley had 22 points and tied a career high with 19 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 122-116 on Wednesday night.
James Harden added 21 points for the Cavaliers, who have won four straight and seven of eight. Cleveland (51-29) can finish no lower than fourth place in the Eastern Conference and is 1/2 game behind New York for the third seed.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 points and Jonathan Kuminga had 24 off the bench as Atlanta was unable to clinch a playoff berth with the loss. The Hawks (45-35) have dropped their last two after winning four straight. They are one game ahead of Toronto for the fifth seed but only 1 1/2 in front of Orlando to avoid being in the play-in tournament.
It was Mitchell's 200th regular-season game with at least 20 points in four years with the Cavaliers. He is the fifth player in franchise history to reach that milestone.
Mitchell had his 14th game this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Atlanta took a 67-56 lead on a dunk by Dyson Daniels with 57 seconds remaining in the first half before Cleveland went on a 17-3 run over the final minute of the second quarter and first three minutes of the third.
Cleveland outscored Atlanta 44-20 in the third to take a 104-87 advantage into the final 12 minutes. A 3-point play by Dennis Schroder put the Cavaliers up 110-92 before the Hawks answered back with an 18-2 run where Alexander-Walker had seven points.
Kuminga's dunk got Atlanta within 118-116 and had a chance to tie after Sam Merrill missed a 3-pointer. But Alexander-Walker lost possession of the ball in the paint before Jarrett Allen got the steal. Mitchell then made a pair of free throws to put the Cavaliers up by more than one possession.
Up next The two teams meet Friday in Atlanta for the fourth and final time in the regular season.