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Cavs score, recap vs. Rockets | Cleveland's wild comeback attempt falls just short in loss
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- Cavs score, recap vs. Rockets | Cleveland's wild comeback attempt falls just short in loss
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers mounted a wild comeback in the fourth quarter but fell short in a 135-131 loss to the Houston Rockets Saturday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
It's the first time the Cavs have dropped three consecutive games this season.
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This was also the second of five games in a seven-day stretch for the Cavs.
Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from Saturday's game.
Cavs, Rockets score update
It looks like the Rockets are going to survive.
After a few free throws made it a three-point lead, Donovan Mitchell had a perfect look at a 3-pointer but missed it with just under 30 seconds to go. The Rockets then made it a five-point game, and Darius Garland had a layup blocked with 20 seconds left.
The Rockets now lead 133-126 with only 16.5 seconds to go.
Cavs trail Rockets by 1 in final minute
This fourth quarter has been wild.
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Tied 124-124, Sengun hit a free throw and missed the second, but Houston grabbed the rebound, which eventually led to a Thompson put-back dunk and a 127-124 lead.
At the other end, Donovan Mitchell was fouled while attempting a 3. He missed the first free throw and then hit the last two, making it a 127-126 game with less than a minute left.
Cavaliers , Rockets score update: Cleveland comes back to tie it in final minutes of fourth quarter
The roof is about to come off this arena.
Fred VanFleet drilled a 3. The Cavs then missed two 3s but were able to get the offensive rebound both times. They eventually found Georges Niang , who buried a 3 to again make it a four-point game.
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After a Rockets miss, Donovan Mitchell drove to the hoop and had a layup fall, making it a two-point game.
The Rockets then came up short again, and Darius Garaland was fouled and hit two free throws to tie it, 124-124, with 1:51 left.
Cavs cut into Rockets lead late in fourth quarter
The Cavs have charged back in the fourth quarter, and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse has come alive for the first time tonight.
After the first several minutes of the fourth quarter were much of the same, the Cavs won a huge review on a ball that Georges Niang saved from going out-of-bounds, and Donovan Mitchell followed that with a 2-and-1 to cut the Houston lead to seven points.
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Ty Jerome had a chance to cut that to four, but he missed two 3s on the same possession to continue his horrendous shooting night, as he's now 1-for-8.
Later, down six, Darius Garland was able to get a contested layup to fall in transition to trim the Rockets' lead to four, 121-117, with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland scoring well, but Cavs trail Rockets
The Cavs haven't mustered much offensive rhythm outside of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who have 22 and 33 points, respectively.
Houston's Tari Eason just found an empty lane for a huge dunk, and Kenny Atkinson angrily called a timeout with 8:05 left and the Cavs trailing 113-99. There was clerly some frustration with the lack of defensive rotation.
Jan 25, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) and Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) reach for a loose ball in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavaliers, Rockets score update: Houston takes big lead over Cleveland into fourth quarter
The Cavs have a lot of work to do to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season, as they trail 101-84 entering the final 12 minutes.
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Donovan Mitchell momentarily spurred a comeback, as he had a put-back dunk and then a 3 to make it a six-point deficit. But from there, the Rockets recovered and ended on a run to push the lead out to 17 points.
Perhaps the loudest cheer of the night was for the Ohio State national title game highlights they just showed on the jumbotron.
It's either that or the kid who just won $10,000 by hitting a halfcourt shot between quarters.
Jan 25, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) dribbles against Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavs, Rockets score: Cleveland trails by double-digits in third quarter
The Cavs are struggling to really close the gap with Houston. The Rockets now lead 76-65 with 6:32 left in the third quarter.
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Darius Garland is up to 17 points and seven assists, but the Cavs' defense has just been a step behind all night. Alperen Sengun is giving Cleveland fits in the paint and is now up to 20 points. Garland also moved into 11th place, passing Campy Russell, on the Cavs' all-time scoring list in franchise history.
Defensively, Cleveland simply hasn't had the same type of flying-around-all-night style that they've grown accustomed to this season.
Rockets lead Cavs at halftime
The Rockets are scoring just about at will and enter halftime up 68-54 over the Cavs.
Cleveland has hit six of their 13 3s, but they're also shooting just 48 percent from the floor. The Rockets are above 50 percent in both categories (58 percent overall, 53 percent from 3).
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Darius Garland and Georges Niang both have 12 points for the Cavs. For the Rockets, Jalen Green has a game-high 16 points and Dillon Brooks — who is still drawing boos nearly every time he touches the ball — has 13 points.
Without LeVert , Wade and Okoro, plus playing so many games in a short amount of time, the Cavs just look a bit more flat-footed than they have this season.
Evan Mobley , in his return, has five points and one rebound in 13 minutes.
Jan 25, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) looks to the basket beside Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Who's winning the Cavs-Rockets game?
The Cavs trial 45-40 midway through the second quarter.
Craig Porter Jr . checked in and missed Jarrett Allen on an alley-oop pass by about three feet.
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Georges Niang has been more involved and leads the Cavs with 11 points on 4-for-5 from the floor and 3-for-3 from 3-point range.
Darius Garland has looked a bit out of control tonight with two turnovers.
Rockets lead Cavs after first quarter: live score updates
The Cavs offense looks a bit disjointed, and Cleveland trails the Rockets 33-27 entering the second quarter.
Donovan Mitchell is still at eight points after his early flurry. The Rockets have had more balance, with four players scoring at least six points in the quarter.
It's been a night where no Wade, LeVert or Okoro has been felt.
Jan 25, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) shoots a three-point basket beside Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) in the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavs, Rockets score: Houston mounts early comeback against Cleveland
Donovan Michell can't do it all. The Rockets, led by Fred VanFleet's six points, have come back to take a 13-12 lead with seven minutes to go in the first quarter.
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The Cavs have been tinkering with rotations with Dean Wade , Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert all out. Already, Georges Niang and Ty Jerome are checking into the game.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reach for the opening tip on Jan. 25, 2025, in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell starts Cavs on 8-2 run against Houston Rockets
So far Donovan Mitchell has an 8-2 lead over the Rockets all by himself.
Mitchell has scored the first eight points of the game for Cleveland, starting 3-for-4 from the floor.
Below is some pregame information.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) looks on after committing a foul in the final minute against the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 24, 2025, in Philadelphia.
Kenny Atkinson, Donovan Mitchell earn All-Star recognition
Kenny Atkinson and Donovan Mitchell will officially be involved with the upcoming NBA All-Star Game, as the first round of announcements took place recently.
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Cavs injury report; Evan Mobley returning from injury
The Cavs will be without Caris LeVert, Dean Wade Isaac Okoro Saturday night. Wade (right knee soreness) is being evaluated further Saturday, according to Kenny Atkinson, and the team should have clarity on his status in the next few days.
Evan Mobley (calf) is available. The Cavs are being cautious with Mobley's calf, considering how that injury can lead to a more serious complications, but Atkinson noted before the game that he as active during some 3-on-3s in practice. Mobley missed the past four games.
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Cavs, Rockets game?
Saturday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score vs. Houston Rockets recap, highlights
