Game ID: 22500438
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Houston Rockets
Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 32 28 30 27 117CLE 24 22 17 37 100
CLE @ HOU ScoutingCLE @ HOU 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.
HOU availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 13 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 24 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 38 min since (113% of 34)
NEW Okogie 17 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 14 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 14 since 11/16, returns tonight: 16 min (59% of 26)
OUT Finney-Smith missed 25 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 36 min since (107% of 34)
NEW Smith Jr. 36 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 26 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 16 min since (59% of 26)
NEW Durant 36 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 17 to 28 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 27 since 10/21, returns tonight: 13 min (81% of 16)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 17 min since (64% of 26)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restBACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 20 min since (76% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 13 min since (81% of 16)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restBACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 20 min since (77% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (90% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 12/27, returns tonight: 34 min (100% of 34)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 22 min since (83% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (93% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restBACK Sengun back 1/01 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (93% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Adams missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 31 min (137% of 23)
BACK Sengun back 1/01 after 2, 17 min since (52% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 12/25 after 27, 15 min since (95% of 16)
CLE availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 13 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 8 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 25 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 6 min since (63% of 10)
NEW Tyson 24 to 33 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Mobley missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 14 since 11/19, returns tonight: 26 min (104% of 25)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 9 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 13 min since (129% of 10)
NEW Tyson 24 to 32 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Mobley missed 4 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 10 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 25 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 26 min since (104% of 25)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 11 min since (103% of 10)
CLE availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 5 since 12/14, returns tonight: 25 min (77% of 33)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 11 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 25 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 26 min since (104% of 25)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 10 min since (98% of 10)
NEW Bryant 11 to 18 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 12 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 25 min since (77% of 33)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 27 min since (108% of 25)
CLE availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Tomlin missed 2 since 12/25, returns tonight: 5 min (37% of 14)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 13 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 23 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 27 min since (107% of 25)
CLE availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 14 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 25 min since (75% of 33)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 26 min since (106% of 25)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 5 min since (37% of 14)
CLE availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ball missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 15 min (71% of 21)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 15 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 9 min since (62% of 14)
CLE availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 16 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 27 min since (83% of 33)
BACK Ball back 1/02 after 2, 15 min since (71% of 21)
BACK Tomlin back 12/29 after 2, 12 min since (84% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 128, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Garland at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Cleveland minus-2 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Cleveland's 128. Call it Houston 122, Cleveland 118, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/20 @ DEN 115-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 115-101. HOU shot 51% (39 of 77) to DEN's 40%, 19 of 35 from three. HOU turned it over 19 times to DEN's 11, and DEN turned those into 9 steals. Durant led with 31 (8 of 14, 5 of 6 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Sheppard added 28, Smith Jr. 22. The hinge was Q2, 27-16: HOU came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 21. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/21 @ SAC 124-125 — HOU notes
HOU lost 124-125 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 48% (45 of 94) to SAC's 46%, 16 of 38 from three, and got to the line 24 times to SAC's 36. Sengun led with 28 (12 of 17, 4 of 6 at the line); Durant added 24, Thompson 18. Q2 was theirs, 37-27, but the other 4 periods went 98-87 against them. They led by as many as 14. Smith Jr.'s -20 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ LAC 108-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 108-128. HOU took 9 more shots (86 to 77), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 50% to LAC's 55%, 9 of 30 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAC's 27. HOU turned it over 13 times to LAC's 8. Durant led with 22 (8 of 15, 1 of 4 from three); Thompson added 19, Sengun 19. Q1 was theirs, 35-29, but the other 3 periods went 99-73 against them. Sheppard's -21 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 @ LAL 119-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-96. HOU shot 53% (48 of 90) to LAL's 51%, 8 of 24 from three, and went to the line 19 times to LAL's 11 — 15 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 48-25 for them. Thompson led with 26 (12 of 19); Durant added 25, Smith Jr. 16. The hinge was Q1, 37-25: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/27 vs CLE 117-100 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-100. HOU shot 49% (43 of 88) to CLE's 43%, 16 of 35 from three, and went to the line 21 times to CLE's 11 — 15 points from the stripe to their 7. Durant led with 30 (11 of 17, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Sheppard added 18, Smith Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 30-17: a lead of 14 became 27, and the lead reached 31. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/29 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Thompson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 125, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 21 and McConnell at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Sheppard (10 straight), Toppin (29 straight), Isa. Jackson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Indiana minus-8 and the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 30. Call it Houston 121, Indiana 109, Houston by 12.
1/01 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 27 and Dëmin at 16 a game. Without Williams (2 straight), Saraf (7 straight), Martin (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and Brooklyn plus-0 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 104 a night to Houston's 114. Call it Houston 113, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/03 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Flagg at 22 and Williams at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Russell (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 54 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Thompson at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 16 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-16 a night and Dallas minus-3 and the defense, Houston allowing 108 a night to Dallas's 123. Call it Houston 118, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
1/05 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 104, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Adams (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Brooks at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Allen (9 straight), Green (25 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and Phoenix plus-8 and the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Phoenix's 110. Call it Houston 117, Phoenix 110.
12/19 vs CHI 125-136 — CLE notes
CLE lost 125-136. CLE shot 48% (48 of 101) to CHI's 52%, 14 of 39 from three. Garland led with 35 (13 of 27, 6 of 12 from three); Proctor added 16, Tomlin 15. Q3 was theirs, 44-35, the deficit cut from 11 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 101-81 against them. They led by as many as 11.
12/22 vs CHA 139-132 — CLE notes
CLE won 139-132. CLE shot 55% (48 of 87) to CHA's 49%, 24 of 44 from three, and got to the line 19 times to CHA's 25. CLE turned it over 13 times to CHA's 19. The glass went 30-44 against them. Mitchell led with 30 (10 of 18, 6 of 11 from three); Garland added 27, Hunter 27. The hinge was Q2, 37-27: CLE came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 7, and the lead reached 19. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/23 vs NOP 141-118 — CLE notes
CLE won 141-118. CLE shot 53% (56 of 105) to NOP's 46%, 20 of 49 from three, and got to the line 11 times to NOP's 25. Mitchell led with 27 (11 of 16, 2 of 6 from three); Merrill added 22, Tyson 18. The hinge was Q1, 32-22: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Hunter was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/25 @ NYK 124-126 — CLE notes
CLE lost 124-126. CLE shot 52% (45 of 86) to NYK's 47%, 15 of 34 from three. Mitchell led with 34 (12 of 25, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Garland added 20, Tyson 16. Q1 was theirs, 38-23, but the other 3 periods went 103-86 against them. They led by as many as 17.
12/27 @ HOU 100-117 — CLE notes
CLE lost 100-117. CLE took 8 more shots (96 to 88), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to HOU's 49%, 11 of 36 from three, and got to the line 11 times to HOU's 21. Tyson led with 23 (10 of 20, 1 of 5 from three); Mitchell added 16, Merrill 13. Q4 was theirs, 37-27, the deficit cut from 27 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 90-63 against them. Garland's -32 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Castle at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 126, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland minus-3 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 110 a night to Cleveland's 126. Call it San Antonio 123, Cleveland 116.
12/31 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 23 and Garland at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Brooks at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Allen (6 straight), Green (22 straight), Dunn (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-4 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 110 a night to Cleveland's 119. Call it Cleveland 118, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/02 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Tyson at 17 a game. Without Ball (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 129, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 35 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Braun (22 straight), Johnson (4 straight), Gordon (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 115 a night to Denver's 129 and the line, where Denver takes 26 free throws a game to Cleveland's 17. Call it Cleveland 123, Denver 119, Denver keeping it close.
1/04 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Detroit comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Cunningham at 27 and Duren at 16 a game. Without LeVert (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 28 free throws a game to Cleveland's 19. Call it Cleveland 118, Detroit 116, Detroit keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
LB L. Ball
SM S. Merrill
TB T. Bryant
TP T. Proctor
HOUAH A. Holiday
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
JD J. Davison
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
CLE/HOU 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
Kevin Durant scores 30 points to lead the Rockets to a dominant win over the Cavaliers
HOUSTON -- — Kevin Durant scored 30 points in three quarters to lead the Houston Rockets to an easy 117-100 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.
The Rockets won their second straight after they lost four of their previous five games.
Durant, who also had seven assists and four rebounds, didn’t play in the fourth quarter with Houston up by 27 points after three.
The Cavaliers cut the lead to 12 on a basket by Darius Garland with about seven minutes left in the third quarter before Houston used a 15-0 run to make it 85-58 about two minutes later. After a dunk by Durant in that stretch, Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson received a technical for yelling at the officials and Durant made the free throw.
Jabari Smith Jr. capped the run with a 3-pointer before Dean Wade made a 3 to give the Cavaliers their first points in more than four minutes.
Reserve Jaylon Tyson had 23 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell added 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting for the Cavaliers, who dropped a second straight game and their fifth in the last seven games.
The Rockets scored seven straight points, with 3s from Tari Eason and Smith, to take a 16-12 lead and never trailed again.
Tyson hit a shot for the Cavaliers after that but Houston then used a 12-2 spurt, with nine points from Durant, to push the lead to 28-16 late in the first.
Reed Sheppard added 18 points and eight assists off the bench for the Rockets. Smith had 15 points to tie a career high with his fifth straight game with at least 15 points.
Houston’s Steven Adams had nine points and eight assists starting in place of All-Star Alperen Sengun , who missed the game with calf tightness.
Up next Cavaliers: Visit San Antonio on Monday night.