Game ID: 22501187
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 43 22 34 31 130WAS 21 34 40 22 117
CLE vs WAS ScoutingCLE vs 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.
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
CLE availability going into 4/23 · 2 days' restOUT Bryant missed 6 since 4/06, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 11)
OUT Proctor missed 2 since 4/18, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 10)
BACK Mitchell back 4/18 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Allen back 4/18 after 2, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 4/18 after 2, 20 min since (82% of 25)
BACK Tyson back 4/10 after 10, 19 min since (79% of 24)
BACK Wade back 4/08 after 7, 22 min since (100% of 22)
CLE availability going into 4/26 · 2 days' restBACK Mitchell back 4/18 after 2, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Allen back 4/18 after 2, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 4/18 after 2, 20 min since (79% of 25)
BACK Tyson back 4/10 after 10, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Bryant back 4/23 after 6, 3 min since (23% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 4/23 after 2, 3 min since (25% of 10)
WAS availability going into 4/05 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 56 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Reese back 4/04 after 2, 10 min since (34% of 31)
BACK Black back 4/04 after 2, 4 min since (15% of 29)
BACK Sarr back 3/27 after 2, 22 min since (83% of 27)
BACK Johnson back 3/27 after 3, 24 min since (99% of 24)
BACK Champagnie back 3/27 after 2, 24 min since (118% of 20)
BACK Vukcevic back 3/29 after 2, 16 min since (116% of 14)
NEW Riley 22 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Gill 17 to 30 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 57 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Reese back 4/04 after 2, 27 min since (88% of 31)
BACK Black back 4/04 after 2, 23 min since (80% of 29)
NEW Riley 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Gill 17 to 33 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 2 since 4/05, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 58 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 3 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Reese back 4/04 after 2, 30 min since (98% of 31)
BACK Black back 4/04 after 2, 23 min since (81% of 29)
NEW Riley 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Watkins 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gill 17 to 30 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 3 since 4/05, out tonight
OUT Hardy missed 2 since 4/07, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 59 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 4 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Reese back 4/04 after 2, 32 min since (105% of 31)
BACK Black back 4/04 after 2, 28 min since (96% of 29)
NEW Riley 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Watkins 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Gill 17 to 30 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 4 since 4/05, not on tonight's roster
OUT Hardy missed 3 since 4/07, returns tonight: 16 min (80% of 20)
OUT Whitmore missed 60 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Vukcevic missed 5 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Reese back 4/04 after 2, 33 min since (108% of 31)
BACK Black back 4/04 after 2, 29 min since (99% of 29)
NEW Riley 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Watkins 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Gill 17 to 30 min over the last 5
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.
4/05 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 102-124 — CLE notes
CLE lost 102-124. CLE shot 45% (39 of 86) to ATL's 48%, 7 of 27 from three, and got to the line 18 times to ATL's 25. CLE turned it over 19 times to ATL's 11, and ATL turned those into 12 steals. Harden led with 20 (6 of 13, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Tyson added 15, Proctor 15. Q4 was theirs, 37-28, the deficit cut from 31 to 22, but the other 3 periods went 96-65 against them. Harden's -34 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 vs WAS 130-117 — CLE notes
CLE won 130-117. CLE shot 54% (48 of 89) to WAS's 47%, 18 of 43 from three. CLE turned it over 19 times to WAS's 12, and WAS turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 53-30 for them. Tomlin led with 26 (9 of 16, 4 of 8 from three); Proctor added 22, Tyson 18. The hinge was Q1, 43-21: from level to 22 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Sarr was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
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.
4/23 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; Barrett at 24 and Ingram at 21 a game. 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Harden at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Toronto 116, Cleveland 115, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/26 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 55 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Barrett at 26 and Barnes at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Harden at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 44 percent from three to Cleveland's 36 and the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-5 a night and Toronto minus-1. Call it Toronto 117, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/05 @ BKN 115-121 — WAS notes
WAS lost 115-121. WAS shot 56% (44 of 79) to BKN's 49%, 9 of 25 from three. WAS turned it over 20 times to BKN's 11, and BKN turned those into 11 steals. Riley led with 30 (9 of 16, 3 of 7 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Watkins added 20, Reese 17. Q2 was theirs, 31-24, the deficit cut from 12 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 97-84 against them.
4/07 vs CHI 98-129 — WAS notes
WAS lost 98-129. WAS shot 43% (37 of 86) to CHI's 49%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 21 times to CHI's 27. WAS turned it over 21 times to CHI's 13, and CHI turned those into 14 steals. Coulibaly led with 19 (7 of 10, 2 of 3 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Reese added 17, Cooper 17. Q4 was theirs, 35-29, the deficit cut from 37 to 31, but the other 3 periods went 100-63 against them. Black's -31 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/09 vs CHI 108-119 — WAS notes
WAS lost 108-119. WAS shot 40% (38 of 96) to CHI's 46%, 10 of 38 from three. Riley led with 23 (8 of 22, 1 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Reese added 16, Black 14. Q2 was theirs, 27-20, the deficit cut from 8 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 99-81 against them. Gill's -18 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/10 vs MIA 117-140 — WAS notes
WAS lost 117-140. WAS took 10 more shots (92 to 82), but shot 50% to MIA's 60%, 14 of 31 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIA's 26. WAS turned it over 13 times to MIA's 18. The glass went 27-40 against them. Carrington led with 30 (11 of 15, 6 of 7 from three); Coulibaly added 25, Riley 16. Q3 was theirs, 33-33, but the other 3 periods went 107-84 against them. Riley's -30 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/12 @ CLE 117-130 — WAS notes
WAS lost 117-130. WAS shot 47% (42 of 90) to CLE's 54%, 18 of 41 from three. WAS turned it over 12 times to CLE's 19. The glass went 30-53 against them. Watkins led with 24 (7 of 13, 5 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Carrington added 20, Cooper 20. Q2 was theirs, 34-22, the deficit cut from 22 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 108-83 against them. Cooper's -13 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
WASAG A. Gill
BC B. Carrington
JC J. Champagnie
JH J. Hardy
JR J. Reese
JW J. Watkins
LB L. Black
SC S. Cooper
WR W. Riley
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
JT J. Tyson
LN L. Nance Jr.
MS M. Strus
NT N. Tomlin
OS O. Sarr
RM R. Minix
TE T. Enaruna
TP T. Proctor
WAS/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
Tomlin scores career-high 26 as Cavaliers defeat Wizards 130-117 in regular-season finale
CLEVELAND -- — Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored a career-high 26 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers led wire-to-wire, defeating the Washington Wizards 130-117 Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Jaylon Tyson was two assists shy of a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Cavaliers rested most of their key players because they were locked into the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Max Strus — who missed the first 67 games due to a broken left foot — played 18 minutes in the first half and had 10 points and five rebounds.
The Cavaliers (52-30) — who will face Toronto in the first round — have won 11 of their last 14 games and are 35-14 since Dec. 29. They have 15 straight wins over Washington, the second-longest winning streak against any team in franchise history.
Washington’s Jamir Watkins had a career-high 24 points, while Sharife Cooper and Bub Carrington scored 20 apiece. Carrington is the first NBA player since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016-17 to appear in all 82 games in each of his first two seasons.
The NBA-worst Wizards (17-65) ended the season on a 10-game losing streak and dropped 26 of their last 27. Their only win during that stretch was on March 25 against Utah.
Cleveland scored a season-high 43 points in the first quarter. Tomlin's 3-pointer put the Cavaliers up 55-31 with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter before the Wizards started rallying back. They went on a 16-5 run over the last four minutes of the first half to get within 65-55 at halftime.
The Wizards pulled within 99-97 early in the fourth quarter on a driving layup by Cooper but could not tie or take the lead.
Up next Wizards: Wait to see if they will have first pick in the draft when the NBA draft lottery is held in May.
Cavaliers: Will face Toronto in the first round of the playoffs.