Lakers vs. Cavaliers: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions
The Los Angeles Lakers (30-41) play against the Cleveland Cavaliers (30-30) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Game Time: 7:00 PM EDT on Monday March 21, 2022
Los Angeles Lakers 6, Cleveland Cavaliers 9 (Q1 08:07)
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
They go way back.
👑 x 💛 pic.twitter.com/1IHhB8iBzS – 7:13 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
#Cavs guard Caris LeVert remains on a minutes restriction tonight against the Lakers, sources tell @clevelanddotcom. However, the number is going to be higher than it has been recently. – 7:13 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
LeBron James did the powder toss before tipoff. Then he went to Kevin Love for their old, choreographed handshake. Welcome back. – 7:10 PM
Marla Ridenour @MRidenourABJ
Kevin Love and LeBron James did their old pregame greeting before tipoff – 7:10 PM
Marla Ridenour @MRidenourABJ
No standing ovation, but a big roar when LeBron James is announced. Lots of Lakers jerseys, mostly for James, but a few wearing Kobe Bryant. – 7:07 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs
Showtime! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/tNfYQLqOqv – 7:00 PM
Joe Vardon @joevardon
Arena is half full, but those who are at their seats went nuts for LeBron as he took the floor in Cleveland. – 6:48 PM
Joe Vardon @joevardon
Anthony Davis (ankle) is again getting an extended on-court workout here in Cleveland. Davis’ health — and not Russell Westbrook — are why the Lakers are where they are. – 6:47 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel hinted after the last game that the Lakers would try to counter Cleveland’s size in their lineups. Tonight, Wenyen Gabriel and Dwight Howard both start in the front court with LeBron, Russ and Austin Reaves. – 6:42 PM
Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
Talked with a league talent evaluator today for more on Evan Mobley.
Improvement still needed w/ strength + jumper consistency. But called Mobley a “stud.”
Evaluator: “If the writers are paying attention, he should make all defense right now.”
latimes.com/sports/story/2… – 6:42 PM
Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
LJ. RW. DH. AR. WG.
#SuitingUpTogether | @ToyotaSoCal pic.twitter.com/zwtBTHN0TV – 6:40 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
A little more running and moving from Anthony Davis today in his pregame warmup than Saturday in Washington. He’s running through two-man drills with John Lucas, not at game speed but definitely faster than we’ve seen since he sprained his right foot. – 6:39 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Cleveland is ready for LeBron James pic.twitter.com/HSEVnc6vwX – 6:33 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Anthony Davis getting some pregame work in before the Cavs game pic.twitter.com/cnDHbMXoar – 6:32 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Dwight back in the starting lineup. Wenyen gets the nod, too: pic.twitter.com/aZ2i8A0uF2 – 6:31 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Lakers starters at Cleveland: Westbrook, Reaves, LeBron, Gabriel and Howard. – 6:30 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs
Tonight’s #CavsLakers starters! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/QphinD5HHj – 6:24 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs
Catching #CavsLakers from @RMFieldHouse?
Don’t miss your opportunity to swing by our Social Zone outside Portal 11 to vote on Caris LeVert’s Top Drive driven by @Goodyear and pick up a FREE shirt!
#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/J4J95n12Lz – 6:10 PM
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
#Cavs will start Lamar Stevens again tonight against the Lakers, I’m told. Same starting group that they’ve been using in recent games. – 6:04 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs
Only 3 players in the league are averaging at least 15 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.5 BPG and a .500 FG% this season
– Rudy Gobert
– Anthony Davis
– Evan Mobley
#MobleyMonday | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/7X0rucRkF4 – 5:53 PM
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
Dwane Casey on Saben Lee’s development: “He’s getting better reading situations. Think he had four assists in Cleveland. He’s seeing the floor better as a point guard. He’s understanding the difference between the two leagues, and in college … he’s grown leaps and bounds.” – 5:49 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says there’s “no updates” on Kendrick Nunn. – 5:33 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel on Russell Westbrook: “I think he’s knocking down shots because he’s slowing down.” – 5:33 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
No THT for the Lakers tonight. Frank Vogel said he’s been trying to play through his ankle injury, but it’s been impacting his play.
Everyone else (outside of AD/Nunn) will be available, including Wayne Ellington, who was sick the last two games. – 5:32 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Talen Horton-Tucker is OUT tonight in Cleveland. Everyone else on the injury report is in, including Wayne Ellington who missed the last two games. – 5:31 PM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Talen Horton-Tucker will not play because of ankle, per Frank Vogel, and will be listed as day to day. – 5:31 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says Wayne Ellington will be available tonight. Talen Horton-Tucker (ankle) will be held OUT tonight vs. Cavs. – 5:31 PM
Marla Ridenour @MRidenourABJ
#Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Dean Wade (right knee soreness) will be “out for the forseeable future,” but gives no timeline. – 5:28 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs
Start of the work week. #MoreDriven pic.twitter.com/ZBsG9WR8pf – 5:19 PM
Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
📍 Cleveland pic.twitter.com/sNnLevQfrN – 5:10 PM
Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On: The Top Centers in the NBA 2021-22 w/ @Nate Duncan
Subscribe to Total Access for ad-free episodes of Dunc’d On, and much more: duncdon.supportingcast.fm
Listen: omny.fm/shows/duncd-on… – 5:00 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Sixers say James Harden (hamstring injury management) will also miss tonight’s game vs. Miami. Joel Embiid has already been ruled out. Sixers are at the end of six games in nine days and leave tomorrow for a West trip to Lakers, Clippers and Suns. – 4:47 PM
Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Our 3.75 assist-to-turnover ratio on Saturday night vs. the Lakers was our third-highest of the season.
#DCAboveAll | @DXCTechnology pic.twitter.com/gs3q42BAIN – 4:10 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Free pod: The Top Centers in the NBA 2021-22 w/ @Danny Leroux: https://t.co/uVoL5XxjFi
Dunc’d On Total Access members get this episode ad-free, plus our other 4 pods per week. Subscribe: https://t.co/XSgwN6BUIK pic.twitter.com/bU9kKkzRnV – 4:00 PM
Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
Jayson Tatum chosen NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Interesting to note Jaylen Brown was among the nominees, with Kevin Durant, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro and Pascal Siakam.
Wonder how often two players from the same team get close in the same week. Says something. – 3:47 PM
Washington Wizards @WashWizards
Deni delivered late in the fourth to seal the W against the Lakers 👌
Our @Clorox Clutch Play of the Week ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zEHyzLiVNW – 3:45 PM
Dane Moore @DaneMooreNBA
Karl-Anthony Towns wins Western Conference player of the week. This week Towns averaged…
38.3 points per game
12.0 rebounds
3.0 assists
55.2% shooting from 2
60% shooting from 3
The Wolves outscored their opponents (SAS, LAL, MIL) by 59 points in the 94 minutes Towns played – 3:39 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
Malik Monk may have inadvertently shed light on a troublesome Lakers locker room dynamic.
#Lakers #LakeShow #NBA
sportscasting.com/malik-monk-uni… – 3:35 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 2018, the @Charlotte Hornets Dwight Howard had 32 points and 30 rebounds in a 111-105 win over the Nets.
The only player in NBA history to record at least 30p/30r in a game at an older age than Howard (32 years, 103 days) is Wilt Chamberlain (3x). pic.twitter.com/r27KKj5Y3g – 3:01 PM
Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On: The Top Centers in the NBA 2021-22 w/ @Nate Duncan
Subscribe to Total Access for ad-free episodes of Dunc’d On, and much more: duncdon.supportingcast.fm
Listen: omny.fm/shows/duncd-on… – 3:00 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs
Finish the homestand strong.
🆚 @Los Angeles Lakers
🕗 7:00PM ET
📺 @BallySportsCLE
@betwayusa | #GetItLocked pic.twitter.com/lw34LmTuvG – 3:00 PM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
just recorded an open floor episode with @RohanNadkarni where we ranked the 3 greatest individual regular seasons over the last 25 years (no lebron or mj allowed).
such a fun conversation that went in so many different directions. should be up soon – 2:57 PM
Dane Moore @DaneMooreNBA
I’m curious to see who Chris Finch puts on Luka tonight.
Feels like the assumption is that it will be Ant — because McDaniels is out.
But I think the way Finch handled the rotation against the Lakers and Bucks (and all season) suggests Vanderbilt would be first up on Luka. – 2:37 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
Tonight’s Lakers-Cavaliers game is the most expensive Cavs game since LeBron left Cleveland in 2018. @TickPick reports that the average purchase price is $219, topping the Cavs previous most expensive game (Lakers in 2021). It’s 208% more expensive than the Cavs’ season average. – 2:08 PM
Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Here’s how LeBron James compares to the rest of the top five in terms of how many points he’s scored by a given age.
More LeBron comps to the rest of the top five here 👇
https://t.co/51XFmYuI94 pic.twitter.com/jeuNSMuWqA – 2:05 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 2021, the @Phoenix Suns Chris Paul had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 111-94 win over the Lakers.
Paul became the sixth player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career assists. Only John Stockton reached that mark at a younger age. pic.twitter.com/7SZIAWubCI – 2:01 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Free pod: The Top Centers in the NBA 2021-22 w/ @Danny Leroux: https://t.co/uVoL5XxjFi
Dunc’d On Total Access members get this episode ad-free, plus our other 4 pods per week. Subscribe: https://t.co/XSgwN6BUIK pic.twitter.com/8fF6Xnvaac – 2:00 PM
Doug Smith @SmithRaps
I don’t know how it’s going to happen but a five-way tie with Philly, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and Toronto for 3-through-7 in the East should be the goal for all of us
The more chaos, the better – 1:53 PM
Wade Baldwin @The_Fourth_Wade
Carmelo Anthony isn’t praised enough for his body of work in the league. – 1:52 PM
Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs
The pair went 12-19 from the field 🔥
@KeyBank | #LetEmKnow – 1:30 PM
Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
In the Paint started from a shared vision to empower and uplift the culture of Los Angeles. These are the Contributing Artists who are making that vision real (3/3).
#LakeShow x @bibigoUSA – 1:30 PM
Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Now the game’s 2nd-highest scorer of all-time, @LeBron James looks back on his very first bucket in the NBA 👑 pic.twitter.com/02PZ34hruJ – 1:26 PM
Doug Smith @SmithRaps
That Lakers-Pelicans 9-10 play-in game is gonna be a beaut – 1:20 PM
Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On: The Top Centers in the NBA 2021-22 w/ @Nate Duncan
Subscribe to Total Access for ad-free episodes of Dunc’d On, and much more: duncdon.supportingcast.fm
Listen: omny.fm/shows/duncd-on… – 1:00 PM
