2024-25 · Regular Season · Final
Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday, March 16, 2025 · tip-off time not recorded
ORL 0–2@CLE 1–2 records going into the game NBA.com recap ↗
Forecast and result
| Team | Projected | Final | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORL Orlando Magic | 104 | 108 | +4 |
| CLE Cleveland Cavaliers (home) | 122 | 103 | −19 |
Forecast: Cleveland Cavaliers to win, 88% win probability, projected margin 18.
Inside the Forecast
How the inputs are builtWhat the model received
| Input | ORL | CLE |
|---|---|---|
| Elo ratingMargin-of-victory Elo; 1500 is average. | 1424 | 1763 |
| Elo gap, home minus road, incl. home court | +410 | |
| Season scoring marginPoints per game, blended with last season early in the year. | −1.5 | +11.2 |
| Games played this season | 68 | 66 |
| Offensive rating, last 10Points scored per 100 possessions. | 111.0 | 121.3 |
| Defensive rating, last 10Points allowed per 100 possessions; lower is better. | 114.3 | 110.7 |
| Combined pace, last 10Possessions per game, both teams. | 97.9 | |
| Rotation points missingPoints per game of rotation players listed Out or Doubtful. | 0.0 | 18.9 |
| Rest days | 2 | 2 |
| Second night of a back-to-back | No | No |
This forecast can't be broken down exactly: the model version that made this forecast is not available. Explanations are shown only when the model that made a forecast can be rebuilt and reproduces it. How explanations are checked
Built from the box scores
How the breakdowns workWhere each input came from. Open a row to see the games and box-score stats behind it. A breakdown is shown only when rebuilding it from the stored stats gives exactly the number the model received.
Elo ratingORL1424CLE1763
Updated after every game from the final score only: wins, losses and margin. Each season starts by keeping 75% of last season's distance from the 1500 average.
ORL1424
- Ended last season at 1531 → started this one at 1523
- First 58 games: −89.5
- Last 10 games: −9.8
- WWAS110–90+5.0
- LCLE82–122−10.4
- LGSW115–121−6.3
- LTOR102–104−6.9
- LTOR113–114−5.5
- LCHI123–125−6.5
- W@MIL111–109+9.3
- L@HOU84–97−4.9
- W@NOP113–93+18.5
- L@MIN111–118−2.1
CLE1763
- Ended last season at 1523 → started this one at 1517
- First 56 games: +201.1
- Last 10 games: +44.7
- WMEM129–123+3.4
- W@ORL122–82+10.4
- W@BOS123–116+9.1
- WPOR133–129+1.3
- W@CHI139–117+4.8
- WMIA112–107+1.3
- W@CHA118–117+0.5
- W@MIL112–100+6.8
- WBKN109–104+0.6
- W@MEM133–124+6.5
Season scoring marginORL−1.5CLE+11.2
Points scored minus points allowed per game this season, mixed with last season's margin until 20 games are played.
ORL−1.5
Scores 104.5, allows 106.0 over 68 games: −1.5 a game.
CLE+11.2
Scores 122.8, allows 111.6 over 66 games: +11.2 a game.
Offensive rating, last 10ORL111.0CLE121.3
Points scored per 100 possessions. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2024-25 to date: 113.5).
ORL111.0scored, −2.5 vs league
| Factor | ORL | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 51.2% | 54.3% | −4.6 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 11.0% | 12.1% | +1.6 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | 22.3% | 25.1% | −1.3 | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.242 | 0.194 | +1.4 | |
| Everything else | +0.4 |
CLE121.3scored, +7.8 vs league
| Factor | CLE | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 55.7% | 54.3% | +2.1 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 10.8% | 12.1% | +1.9 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | 28.8% | 25.1% | +1.6 | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.264 | 0.194 | +2.0 | |
| Everything else | +0.1 |
Defensive rating, last 10ORL114.3CLE110.7
Points allowed per 100 possessions, built from what opponents did in those games. Bars point right when the defense held opponents below average. Split into the four factors: right of center helps the team, left hurts, in points per 100 possessions compared with the league average (2024-25 to date: 113.5).
ORL114.3allowed, +0.8 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 55.8% | 54.3% | −2.3 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 14.2% | 12.1% | +3.1 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | 25.9% | 25.1% | −0.3 | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.243 | 0.194 | −1.4 | |
| Everything else | +0.2 |
CLE110.7allowed, −2.8 vs league
| Factor | Opponents | League | hurtshelps | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shooting (eFG%) | 51.7% | 54.3% | +4.0 | |
| Turnovers (TOV%) | 11.3% | 12.1% | −1.2 | |
| Offensive rebounding (OREB%) | 23.5% | 25.1% | +0.7 | |
| Free throws (FTM per FGA) | 0.184 | 0.194 | +0.3 | |
| Everything else | −0.9 |
Pace, last 10average 97.9
Possessions per 48 minutes. The model uses the average of the two teams. Faster games mean more points for both sides, so pace mostly moves the projected total, not the margin.
ORL 95.7 and CLE 100.2 → average 97.9 (league 2024-25 to date: 99.7)
Rotation points missingORL0.0CLE18.9
Points per game of rotation players (two or more of the last 10 games this season, 15+ minutes) listed Out or Doubtful on the official injury report.
ORL0.0pts/g missing
Every rotation player was available.
Source: official injury report, 2025-03-16 17:30 ET. 6 rotation players.
CLE18.9pts/g missing
| Player | Pts | Min | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evan Mobley | 18.9 | 32.1 | 9 |
Source: official injury report, 2025-03-16 17:30 ET. 10 rotation players.
RestORL2 daysCLE2 days
Days since the team's previous game, capped at 5. One day means the second night of a back-to-back.
ORL2days
Last played Mar 14 against MIN.
CLE2days
Last played Mar 14 against MEM.
The last 10 games behind these numbers, box-score totals
ORL
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14 | @MIN | 111–118 | 40-89 | 12-28 | 19-22 | 11 | 6 | 112.1 | 116.8 | 100.0 |
| Mar 13 | @NOP | 113–93 | 43-83 | 13-33 | 14-18 | 8 | 6 | 124.2 | 102.2 | 91.0 |
| Mar 10 | @HOU | 84–97 | 28-86 | 8-32 | 20-24 | 8 | 11 | 92.3 | 104.3 | 92.0 |
| Mar 8 | @MIL | 111–109 | 42-82 | 12-32 | 15-19 | 10 | 5 | 116.8 | 114.7 | 95.0 |
| Mar 6 | CHI | 123–125 | 40-87 | 9-33 | 34-40 | 12 | 9 | 119.4 | 122.5 | 102.5 |
| Mar 4 | TOR | 113–114 | 40-83 | 15-36 | 18-23 | 14 | 7 | 115.3 | 117.5 | 97.5 |
| Mar 2 | TOR | 102–104 | 30-67 | 7-21 | 35-42 | 14 | 7 | 108.5 | 111.8 | 93.5 |
| Feb 27 | GSW | 115–121 | 45-89 | 11-28 | 14-18 | 18 | 15 | 119.8 | 127.4 | 95.5 |
| Feb 25 | CLE | 82–122 | 33-90 | 5-28 | 11-14 | 10 | 12 | 88.2 | 132.6 | 92.5 |
| Feb 23 | WAS | 110–90 | 40-90 | 11-32 | 19-22 | 13 | 14 | 113.4 | 92.8 | 97.0 |
CLE
| Date | Opp | Score | FG | 3P | FT | TOV | OREB | Off | Def | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14 | @MEM | 133–124 | 44-88 | 19-51 | 26-33 | 15 | 8 | 120.9 | 113.8 | 109.5 |
| Mar 11 | BKN | 109–104 | 39-89 | 10-42 | 21-25 | 14 | 12 | 113.5 | 109.5 | 95.5 |
| Mar 9 | @MIL | 112–100 | 39-88 | 19-47 | 15-19 | 15 | 12 | 112.0 | 101.0 | 99.5 |
| Mar 7 | @CHA | 118–117 | 32-76 | 11-34 | 43-51 | 13 | 9 | 115.7 | 114.7 | 102.0 |
| Mar 5 | MIA | 112–107 | 41-87 | 14-40 | 16-22 | 13 | 10 | 113.1 | 108.1 | 99.0 |
| Mar 4 | @CHI | 139–117 | 46-98 | 17-48 | 30-33 | 8 | 10 | 128.7 | 108.3 | 108.0 |
| Mar 2 | POR | 133–129 | 42-97 | 19-46 | 30-35 | 13 | 13 | 117.7 | 114.2 | 102.3 |
| Feb 28 | @BOS | 123–116 | 45-94 | 17-39 | 16-19 | 7 | 14 | 130.9 | 124.7 | 93.5 |
| Feb 25 | @ORL | 122–82 | 45-80 | 19-32 | 13-16 | 11 | 8 | 132.6 | 88.2 | 92.5 |
| Feb 23 | MEM | 129–123 | 46-99 | 13-47 | 24-35 | 14 | 22 | 127.7 | 124.2 | 100.0 |
Off and Def are points scored and allowed per 100 possessions in each game; their averages are the 10-game ratings above. OREB is missing (–) where the source data didn't record it.
The result against the forecast
2024-25 surprise gamesSurprise is measured against this model's forecast, not against what other observers expected. Outcome surprise is −ln(winner's pregame probability): 0.69 for a coin flip, 2.3 for a 10% winner.
Team box score
What happened in the game. These numbers are not used by the forecast, and they are not offered as the reason it missed.
| Team stat | ORL | CLE |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 108 | 103 |
| Field goals | 34–81 · 42.0% | 40–96 · 41.7% |
| Three-pointers | 13–31 · 41.9% | 10–40 · 25.0% |
| Free throws | 27–34 · 79.4% | 13–20 · 65.0% |
| Rebounds | 47 | 48 |
| Assists | 21 | 21 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 13 |
| Steals | 11 | 7 |
| Blocks | 3 | 1 |
How the model does with these teams over time: Orlando Magic · Cleveland Cavaliers
Where the forecast differed from the result
| Measure | Forecast | Actual | Actual − forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home margin (CLE) | +18 | −5 | −23 |
| Total points | 226 | 211 | −15 |
| ORL points | 104 | 108 | +4 |
| CLE points | 122 | 103 | −19 |
Recent form before this game
Previous meetings
| Date | Matchup | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 2024-25 | CLE at ORL | CLE 122 – 82 ORL |
| Nov 1 2024-25 | ORL at CLE | ORL 109 – 120 CLE |
| May 5 2023-24 | ORL at CLE | ORL 94 – 106 CLE |
| May 3 2023-24 | CLE at ORL | CLE 96 – 103 ORL |
| Apr 30 2023-24 | ORL at CLE | ORL 103 – 104 CLE |