Game ID: 22500646
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic
Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ORL 23 25 22 35 105CLE 25 30 27 37 119
CLE @ ORL ScoutingCLE @ ORL 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.
ORL availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 14 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Penda back 1/06 after 2, 29 min since (231% of 13)
BACK Howard back 1/04 after 3, 10 min since (83% of 12)
BACK Isaac back 1/04 after 2, 10 min since (101% of 10)
NEW Richardson 11 to 20 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 1/15
OUT Fra. Wagner missed 15 since 12/09, tonight's box is missing
OUT Suggs missed 5 since 1/04, tonight's box is missing
BACK Penda back 1/06 after 2, 31 min since (247% of 13)
BACK Howard back 1/04 after 3, 10 min since (83% of 12)
BACK Isaac back 1/04 after 2, 10 min since (98% of 10)
NEW Richardson 11 to 20 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 1/18
OUT Fra. Wagner missed 15 since 12/09, tonight's box is missing
OUT Suggs missed 5 since 1/04, tonight's box is missing
BACK Penda back 1/06 after 2, 31 min since (247% of 13)
NEW Richardson 11 to 17 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 1/22 · 3 days' restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 15 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 5 since 1/04, out tonight
NEW Black 29 to 37 min over the last 3
NEW Penda 13 to 33 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 1/24 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 16 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Suggs missed 6 since 1/04, returns tonight: 24 min (86% of 28)
NEW Penda 13 to 29 min over the last 3
NEW Richardson 11 to 16 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 17 since 12/09, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 1/24 after 6, 24 min since (86% of 28)
NEW Black 29 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Penda 13 to 24 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 18 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 1/24, out tonight
OUT Howard missed 2 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 1/24 after 6, 26 min since (91% of 28)
NEW Black 29 to 35 min over the last 3
ORL availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 19 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Bitadze missed 2 since 1/26, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 1/24, out tonight
OUT Howard missed 3 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Suggs back 1/24 after 6, 27 min since (95% of 28)
NEW Black 29 to 36 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Fra. Wagner missed 20 since 12/09, out tonight
OUT Bitadze missed 3 since 1/26, returns tonight: 9 min (57% of 15)
OUT Cain missed 4 since 1/24, out tonight
OUT Howard missed 4 since 1/24, returns tonight: 2 min (18% of 12)
BACK Suggs back 1/24 after 6, 29 min since (100% of 28)
NEW Black 29 to 36 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 4 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Ball back 1/14 after 4, 14 min since (68% of 21)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/14 after 21, 5 min since (41% of 12)
BACK Bryant back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (34% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 1/10 after 3, 4 min since (38% of 10)
CLE availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Wade missed 5 since 1/08, returns tonight: 16 min (74% of 22)
BACK Ball back 1/14 after 4, 13 min since (62% of 21)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/14 after 21, 5 min since (41% of 12)
BACK Bryant back 1/10 after 2, 4 min since (34% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 1/10 after 3, 6 min since (61% of 10)
CLE availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Merrill missed 2 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 1/16, returns tonight: 13 min (102% of 12)
BACK Wade back 1/19 after 5, 16 min since (74% of 22)
BACK Ball back 1/14 after 4, 10 min since (50% of 21)
BACK Bryant back 1/10 after 2, 3 min since (31% of 11)
BACK Proctor back 1/10 after 3, 8 min since (82% of 10)
NEW Tyson 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 20 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Merrill missed 3 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Wade back 1/19 after 5, 22 min since (97% of 22)
BACK Ball back 1/14 after 4, 10 min since (50% of 21)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/14 after 21, 9 min since (72% of 12)
NEW Tyson 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/24 · back-to-backOUT Merrill missed 4 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Ball missed 2 since 1/21, returns tonight: 25 min (118% of 21)
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 1/21, returns tonight: 10 min (91% of 11)
BACK Wade back 1/19 after 5, 24 min since (107% of 22)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/14 after 21, 10 min since (85% of 12)
NEW Tyson 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 20 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Merrill missed 5 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Wade back 1/19 after 5, 24 min since (109% of 22)
BACK Ball back 1/24 after 2, 25 min since (118% of 21)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/21 after 2, 13 min since (107% of 12)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 10 min since (91% of 11)
NEW Tyson 24 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 21 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 2 since 1/24, returns tonight: 21 min (80% of 26)
OUT Merrill missed 6 since 1/16, returns tonight: 24 min (96% of 25)
BACK Wade back 1/19 after 5, 25 min since (113% of 22)
BACK Ball back 1/24 after 2, 19 min since (93% of 21)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/21 after 2, 11 min since (88% of 12)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 10 min since (91% of 11)
NEW Tyson 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 22 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restBACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 21 min since (80% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 24 min since (96% of 25)
BACK Ball back 1/24 after 2, 17 min since (81% of 21)
BACK Nance Jr. back 1/21 after 2, 11 min since (90% of 12)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 13 min since (119% of 11)
NEW Tyson 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 23 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/28 after 2, 22 min since (84% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 1/28 after 6, 21 min since (86% of 25)
BACK Ball back 1/24 after 2, 19 min since (90% of 21)
BACK Bryant back 1/24 after 2, 17 min since (153% of 11)
NEW Tyson 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 23 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 21 and Bane at 19 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (16 straight), Suggs (6 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Tyson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Merrill (4 straight), Ball (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-10 a night and Orlando plus-0. Call it Orlando 115, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
1/11 vs NOP 128-118 — ORL notes
ORL won 128-118. ORL shot 52% (43 of 82) to NOP's 58%, 11 of 24 from three, and went to the line 35 times to NOP's 15 — 31 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 39-26 for them. Bane led with 27 (9 of 18, 1 of 4 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Black added 26, Banchero 23. The hinge was Q4, 37-20: ORL came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 10. ORL trailed 58-59 at the half and won the second half 70-59. Bitadze was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/22 vs CHA 97-124 — ORL notes
ORL lost 97-124. ORL shot 42% (33 of 79) to CHA's 54%, 14 of 37 from three. The glass went 31-47 against them. Banchero led with 23 (6 of 12, 2 of 4 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Bane added 21, Wagner 14. Q4 was theirs, 30-27, the deficit cut from 30 to 27, but the other 3 periods went 97-67 against them. Banchero's -25 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/24 vs CLE 105-119 — ORL notes
ORL lost 105-119. ORL shot 41% (33 of 81) to CLE's 53%, 11 of 40 from three, and went to the line 32 times to CLE's 22 — 28 points from the stripe to their 18. Banchero led with 27 (7 of 14, 3 of 6 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Bane added 20, Black 16. Q1 was theirs, 23-25, but the other 3 periods went 94-82 against them. Penda's -19 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/26 @ CLE — 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 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Tyson at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Merrill (5 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and Bane at 20 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Orlando minus-1 and the arc, Cleveland at 34 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Cleveland 116, Orlando 111.
1/28 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Adebayo at 22 and Powell at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Herro (6 straight), Mitchell (3 straight), Ware (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 116, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and Bane at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Fra. Wagner (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-6 a night and Orlando minus-3. Call it Miami 119, Orlando 113.
1/30 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 28 and Bane at 22 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (19 straight), Bitadze (2 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Quickley at 22 and Ingram at 21 a game. Without Poeltl (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 111 a night to Orlando's 120 and the glass, where Toronto has been plus-3 a night and Orlando minus-3. Call it Orlando 115, Toronto 114, Toronto keeping it close.
2/01 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 20 and Fox at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 28 and Bane at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (20 straight), Bitadze (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 107 a night to Orlando's 120 and the arc, Orlando at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 32. Call it San Antonio 116, Orlando 111.
1/16 @ PHI 117-115 — CLE notes
CLE won 117-115. CLE shot 52% (44 of 85) to PHI's 47%, 17 of 34 from three. CLE turned it over 18 times to PHI's 10, and PHI turned those into 11 steals. Tyson led with 39 (13 of 17, 7 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Hunter added 16, Mobley 15. The hinge was Q4, 33-24: CLE came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 2. CLE trailed 55-62 at the half and won the second half 62-53. Hunter was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/19 vs OKC 104-136 — CLE notes
CLE lost 104-136. CLE shot 37% (34 of 91) to OKC's 56%, 8 of 35 from three, and went to the line 35 times to OKC's 20 — 28 points from the stripe to their 13. CLE turned it over 21 times to OKC's 11, and OKC turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 54-38 for them. D. Mitchell led with 19 (5 of 18, 1 of 9 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Tyson added 16, Mobley 16. Q3 was theirs, 28-25, the deficit cut from 15 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 111-76 against them. Allen's -31 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/21 @ CHA 94-87 — CLE notes
CLE won 94-87. CLE shot 39% (34 of 87) to CHA's 34%, 8 of 40 from three, and went to the line 24 times to CHA's 18 — 18 points from the stripe to their 13. CLE turned it over 20 times to CHA's 12, and CHA turned those into 12 steals. The glass went 60-47 for them. Mitchell led with 24 (8 of 20, 2 of 8 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Mobley added 14, Tyson 14. The hinge was Q1, 33-20: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 27.
1/23 vs SAC 123-118 — CLE notes
CLE won 123-118. CLE shot 46% (44 of 96) to SAC's 47%, 13 of 36 from three. CLE turned it over 6 times to SAC's 11. Mitchell led with 33 (11 of 25, 5 of 12 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Mobley added 29, Tyson 17. The hinge was Q3, 34-22: CLE came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 9. CLE trailed 68-71 at the half and won the second half 55-47. Wade was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/24 @ ORL 119-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 119-105. CLE shot 53% (43 of 81) to ORL's 41%, 15 of 34 from three, and got to the line 22 times to ORL's 32. Mitchell led with 36 (15 of 30, 2 of 8 from three); Tyson added 17, Mobley 13. The hinge was Q2, 30-25: a lead of 2 became 7, and the lead reached 18. Mitchell was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/26 vs ORL — 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 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Tyson at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Merrill (5 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and Bane at 20 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-8 a night and Orlando minus-1 and the arc, Cleveland at 34 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Cleveland 116, Orlando 111.
1/28 vs LAL — 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 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Mobley at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Hunter (2 straight), Merrill (6 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 21 a game. Without Reaves (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 40 percent from three to Cleveland's 32 and the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 15 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it Cleveland 115, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/30 @ PHX — 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 108 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brooks at 22 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Green (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 101, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 33 and Mobley at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-2. Call it Cleveland 113, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/01 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 113, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Avdija at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Henderson (49 straight), Murray (12 straight), Thybulle (44 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Mobley at 21 a game. Without Mobley (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 18 times a game to Cleveland's 13 and the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Portland's 32. Call it Cleveland 116, Portland 113, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECP C. Porter Jr.
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
LB L. Ball
NT N. Tomlin
TB T. Bryant
TP T. Proctor
ORLAB A. Black
DB D. Bane
GB G. Bitadze
JR J. Richardson
JS J. Suggs
MW M. Wagner
NP N. Penda
PB P. Banchero
TD T. da Silva
WC W. Carter Jr.
CLE/ORL 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 scores 36 points in Cavaliers' 119-105 win over Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Donovan Mitchell scored 27 of his 36 points in the second half and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away to a 119-105 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.
Jaylon Tyson added 17 points for the Cavaliers and Evan Mobley had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 27 points. Desmond Bane added 20 points and Anthony Black finished with 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Jalen Suggs returned after missing eight games with a bruised right knee and had 9 points and six assists in 24 minutes for Orlando.
Playing without Darius Garland (sore toe) and DeAndre Hunter (sore knee), the Cavaliers won for the fifth time in six games.
After Mitchell scored on four layups and a short bank shot in the third quarter, Cleveland got 3-pointers from Lonzo Ball , Mobley and Tyrese Proctor in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter to take a 97-79 lead, the largest of the game.
Banchero hit three 3-pointers in the final period, but the Magic could get no closer than nine.
Mitchell made 15 of 30 shots and had nine assists and two steals.
Orlando shot 11 for 40 (27.5%) from 3-point range in losing a third straight game for the first time since October.
Magic forward Franz Wagner missed a second straight game with a sore ankle.
Up next The Magic and Cavaliers play again at Cleveland on Monday night.