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Cavs score, recap vs Trail Blazers | Cleveland wins in overtime after 18-point comeback
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- Cavs score, recap vs Trail Blazers | Cleveland wins in overtime after 18-point comeback
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers , owners of the NBA's best record, took down the Portland Trail Blazers 133-129 in overtime to complete yet another comeback win.
This was win No. 50 for the Cavs.
The Cavs were coming off a comeback win over the Boston Celtics Friday night that extended their lead for the top seed in the Eastern Conference to 7.5 games. Cleveland has now won 10 consecutive games.
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Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights throughout Sunday's game.
Cavs beat the Trail Blazers in overtime
The Cavs have survived, though it was a wild final 30 seconds.
De'Andre Hunter stole the ball, but Portland quickly stole it back via a bad pass by Max Strus . That led to a 3-point attempt that was missed, and after Hunter was fouled, he hit both free throws to make it 133-129 with four seconds left, effectively ending the game.
Hunter finished with a game-high 32 points and seven rebounds in what was his best game since being acquired in a trade from the Atlanta Hawks . Ty Jerome finished with 25 points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals.
Mar 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavs, Portland Trail Blazers score update in overtime
Toumani Camara tied it 126-126, and after a Cavs miss, Darius Garland made a tremendous play, almost acting like a defensive back, to tip a long pass to Max Strus in what otherwise would have been the go-ahead basket for Portland.
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Instead, De'Andre Hunter was fouled and hit both free throws with 58.9 seconds left. The Cavs led 128-126.
Anfernee Simons drilled a 3 from the corner to give the Blazers their first lead of the overtime period, but Hunter responded with a 3 of his own, giving the Cavs a 131-129 lead with 30.8 seconds to go.
Cavs lead Blazers in overtime
Max Strus hit a 3 and then found Jarrett Allen for an alley-oop dunk, and the Cavs have a 126-124 lead with 1:38 left in the 5-minute overtime period.
Cavs, Trail Blazers headed to overtime; score, game update
What a wild game — and it'll be at least another five minutes of action to decide this one.
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Darius Garland made one of two free throws to make it 119-117 with eight seconds left.
Max Strus was then called for a questionable blocking foul to put Anfernee Simons on the line, but it might have benefited the Cavs, as Sharpe had followed with a tip-back to tie it even before the whistle blew. Either way, Simons hit both free throws, and De'Andre Hunter's Hail Mary didn't fall from half court, sending the game to overtime.
Max Strus gives Cavs the lead with 15.4 seconds left
Ty Jerome hit a bucket to give the Cavs a lead. That was followed by yet another Shaedon Sharpe put-back to tie it at the other end.
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With 15.4 seconds left, Max Strus had an opening in the corner and drilled a 3-pointer to put Cleveland up 118-115. It'll be Portland ball.
Mar 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) shoots over the defense of Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath (26) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Trail Blazers tie it late in fourth quarter; Evan Mobley fouls out
Evan Mobley just had an unfortunate 30-second stretch.
First, while going for a rebound, it was called out on the Cavs, though replays appeared to disagree. Shaedon Sharpe then followed a missed 3-pointer with a put-back dunk to tie it 113-113.
With 1:14 left, Mobley was given the ball in the paint. He was then called for an offensive foul on Avdija , who grabbed his face as he went down. And with that, Mobley has fouled out.
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Cavs, Blazers score; Cleveland retakes lead over Portland late in fourth quarter
The Cavs looked like they were snoozing all game, but they're wide awake now.
After chipping away at an 18-point deficit, De'Andre Hunter hit a 3 to tie it and then another 3 the next time down the floor to momentarily give the Cavs a one-point lead.
After a Camara 3-pointer to put Portland back on top, Evan Mobley got a finger-roll to drop to put Cleveland up 110-109 with 3:21 to go. And for Portland, Deni Avdija has had an outstanding game and now has a triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
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Mobley does have five fouls, so he'll have to be careful the rest of the way. Donovan Clingan just fouled out for the Trail Blazers.
Mar 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. (9) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Ty Jerome, Evan Mobley lead Cavs back; Portland lead down to 3 points
The Cavs are in the process of possibly pulling off another improbable comeback, as Ty Jerome and Evan Mobley had turned an 18-point deficit into a one-possession game, 91-88, with 9:05 left in the fourth quarter.
Jerome is now up to 20 points and five assists, including a key dish to Sam Merrill in the corner, who buried a 3. Mobley, meanwhile, has been a focal point in the paint and is giving Portland a lot of issues. He's now up 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
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Ty Jerome hits 3 at buzzer; Cavs, Trail Blazers score entering fourth quarter
The Cavs again watched their deficit grow to 18, and they again chipped away and will enter the fourth quarter trailing the Blazers 89-79.
Ty Jerome buried a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to make it a 10-point deficit.
Jerome is having a solid night, now with a team-high 18 points, three rebounds, four assists and five steals. Without Jerome, this game is probably already over.
Scoot Henderson banks in 3; Blazers cruising over Cavs
Cavaliers fans aren't happy with the refs today, but Cleveland's has been flat in what looks to have been a bit of a trap game coming off of the wild win in Boston Friday night.
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The Cavs are still shooting just 36 percent from the floor tonight. That poor game shooting-wise combined with Donovan Mitchell resting isn't a recipe for success.
It also won't help that Scoot Henderson had to heave up an off-balance 3 as the shot clock expired and banked it in.
WIth 3:05 left in the third quarter, the Cavs trail 82-71 following a much-needed Darius Garland 3. Portland's lead reached 18 points earlier in the quarter.
Mar 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) reacts after a play during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavaliers cut into Trail Blazers lead in third quarter
The Cavs are showing some signs of life and energy. They trailed 13 but have cut that down to seven, 63-56, via back-to-back 3s by De'Andre Hunter and then max Strus.
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Hunter was just called for a foul while taking contact as he drove to the rim, and Cavs fans are raining heavy boos down on this officiating crew. A few possessions later, a foul was called on Atlanta as Hunter attempted a shot. The foul call led way to a sarcastic cheer from the Cleveland crowd.
Cavs struggling on offense, trail Blazers at halftime
The Cavs are having a lethargic day during this afternoon game, as they trail 54-42 entering halftime.
Cleveland is just 15-for-46 (32 percent) from the floor.
Jarrett Allen is 4-for-4, but outside of him, the Cavs offense has been inefficient. Darius Garland is 2-for-12. Max Strus is 0-for-4. Sam Merrill is 1-for-5.
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It was an ugly first half for Cleveland coming off of an emotional win in Boston.
Who's winning the Cavs-Trail Blazers game?
The Cavs are up 32-31 with 7:55 left in the second quarter.
Isaac Okoro just had a strong rejection, which eventually led to an Evan Mobley 3 at the other end.
The Cavs are shooting just 35 percent from the floor. Craig Porter Jr. is getting some early minutes with Donovan Mitchell resting.
Mar 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs trail Trail Blazers at end of first quarter
The Cavs hit a couple of 3s to close the cap, and they'll enter second quarter trailing the Blazers 27-24.
Portland opened up a comfortable lead until Isaac Okoro and Ty Jerome hit back-to-back 3s.
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In the final minute of the quarter, Sam Merrill was called for a foul, which led later to a technical foul called on Jerome.
Jerome and Darius Garland both have five points for the Cavs. Shaedon Sharpe has a game-high seven points for Portland.
Mar 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs, Trail Blazers score: Cleveland misses first 7 shots
The Cavs missed their first seven attempts from the floor, but they still only trail 10-7 with 6:52 left in the third quarter.
The Cavs went 0-for-7 until Darius Garland had a 3-pointer roll around the rim before finally dropping. Garland has five of the Cavs' first seven points.
Below is some pregame information.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell dribbles the ball up the court against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 28, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Cavs injury report vs. Trail Blazers; is Donovan Mitchell playing?
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell will be sitting Sunday as a rest day. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson stressed before the game that this was nothing more than a planned rest day. The Cavs have 16 games in 29 days in March.
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Trail Blazers injury report vs. Cavs
For Portland, Deandre Ayton (calf), Robert Williams III (knee) and Matisse Thybulle (anke) are all out.
Jerami Grant (knee) and Deni Avdija (quad) are listed as questionable.
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information; how can I watch, stream or listen to the Cavs-Trail Blazers game?
Sunday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network and nationally on NBA TV. 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 Portland Trail Blazers recap
