Hawks Close Out Cavs in Final Road Game, 124-102

After missing the previous 10 games with a toe injury, Jaylon Tyson returned to the lineup and looked good in 24 minutes of action on Friday night – chipping in with 15 points, going 7-for-15 from the floor, adding four boards, three assists, three steals and a pair of blocks. 

Evan Mobley was the only other Cavalier starter in double-figures, finishing with 10 points and a team-high six rebounds. 

None of Cleveland’s starters saw action in the fourth quarter, opening up the opportunity for some youngsters to make a late-season impression, notably rookie Tyrese Proctor, who poured in 15 points in the final period alone – going 5-for-8 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from long-range and 3-of-3 from the line, adding four assists and a steal. 

For the Hawks, CJ McCollum led everyone with 29 points and Dyson Daniels notched a triple-double, finishing with 13 points and leading both squads with 12 assists and 10 board in the win. 

*** After splitting the final two games against Atlanta, the Cavs wrap up the regular season on Sunday night, welcoming the Wizards to town for the finale. After next week’s Play-In Tournament, the playoffs First Round begin on April 18. 

*** After a white-knuckle battle between potential First Round foes that featured a playoff-like atmosphere on Wednesday night in Cleveland, Friday’s rematch in Atlanta got out of hand just before halftime and was drama-free after intermission.

In the penultimate contest – and final road game – of the 2025-26 regular season, the Hawks closed the first half on a 26-13 run and outscored the Cavaliers, 35-17, in the third quarter, cruising to the 124-102 victory at State Farm Arena. 

Playing without Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill, the Wine & Gold got off to a decent start, and the game was tied at 35-apiece midway through the second quarter. But Canton’s own CJ McCollum caught fire, scoring 14 of his 25 first-half points in the period. 

Cleveland shot just 33 percent from the floor in the third quarter, and the Hawks took total control from there, running out to a 31-point edge heading into the fourth. 

James Harden led the Cavs with 20 points on 6-for-13 shooting, going 6-for-6 from the stripe and leading Cleveland with five assists.