The Cleveland Cavaliers are hosting the Washington Wizards to close the first half of the season before NBA All-Star Weekend! I'll be live updating this page throughout the night.

The Cavs will be without Evan Mobley (left calf strain), Dean Wade (left ankle sprain), Max Strus, and Emmanuel Miller (two-way).

The Wizards have a long injury report, but Bilal Couliably, Kyshawn George, and Anthony Gill are all available. Alexandre Sarr is out, while Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Tristan Vukcevic, and Cam Whitmore are all inactive.

Starters:

Wizards - Johnson, Carrington, George, Coulibaly, Watkins

Cavs - Harden, Mitchell, Merrill, Tyson, Allen

FIRST QUARTER

Sam Merrill is off to a 2-for-2 start from distance. That James Harden gravity is something. Both assisted, one by Harden and another by Mitchell. 

Harden already 4-for-4 from the stripe. Don's made his two tries as well.

Jarrett Allen is thriving with Harden in charge.

Make it three for Merrill, on another find from Don. Cavs open 6-of-7 from the field and have a 21-5 lead only four minutes in. The Wizards have made only one shot in five attempts.

Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis making their Cavs debuts with Cleveland up 25-8. Nice reception for both.

Thomas Bryant in next at about the five-minute mark, followed by Nae'Qwan Tomlin. We've got Harden-Schroder-Ellis-Tomlin-Bryant.

Harden has nine points with one made shot. That is something. 

There have been 28 free throws combined in this first quarter.

First quarter ends with a Qwan steal and slam, but it's not gonna count. 

END 1Q: Cavs 40, Wizards 24

WAS: George 13p, 1r, 1a, stl. Coulibaly 5p, 1a, blk, stl. 

CLE: Harden 9p, 2r, 2a. Mitchell 9p, 2a. Merrill 9p. Allen 8p, 2r. 

SECOND QUARTER

Schroder-Mitchell-Porter-Tomlin-Bryant to open the period.

How about a quick eight for former Charge standout Sharife Cooper in four minutes? Good to see him hooping. Cavs lead trimmed to 49-39 as Kenny Atkinson calls for time.

Cleveland opens with Harden-Porter-Merrill-Ellis-Allen.

Beautiful ATO where Merrill circled around Harden and wound up getting it off a curl for a three on the left wing. 

Ellis has some savvy tracking skills on defense. Cavs in a game here as the Wizards survived the early uppercut and got back up. It's 54-47 with 5:35 left in the second.

Sam Merrill entered tonight as the best catch-shooter from deep in the NBA. He's 7-of-7 on threes, and he's got a cutting layup and drive-and-finish and-one to boot. He's got 26 points in 11 minutes.

Harden and Mitchell both have three fouls now going into half. Some self-inflicted inbounding issues with Beard; other than that, you'll see him and Mitchell get those shots up in the second half.

Allen had a 6-for-6 half in his own right.

HALF: Cavs 76, Wizards 61

WAS: George 13p, 2r, 1, stl. Cooper 11p, 2r, 2a. Champagnie 9p, 4r, 1a. Coulibaly 8p, 2a, 2stl, blk. 

CLE: Merrill 26p, 2r. Allen 14p, 5r, 2a. Harden 11p, 8a, 3r. Mitchell 11p, 4a, 2stl. Schroder 7p, blk.

THIRD QUARTER

Wizards are attacking the right side of the floor and knifing into the paint. Cavs getting hurt on the glass here early. Washington also mixing up defensive coverages.

Cavs up 82-75 four minutes into the third. There's some difficulties offensively in the opening moments of the second half.

Bub Carrington's made some nice middies here. 

A behind-the back bounce pass in the pocket to a cutter? Okay, Beard. I feel that.

Cavs leading 96-84 with just under four minutes left in the quarter. Mitchell-Schroder-Ellis-Tomlin-Bryant to close.

Mitchell went off to end the quarter. A three and downhill attacks to get to the cup. Cavs up by 19 going into the fourth.

END 3Q: Cavs 108, Wizards 89

WAS: George 17p, 5r, 3a, stl. Cooper 11p, 3r, 2a, blk. Coulibaly 12p, 2a, 2stl, blk. Johnson 11p, 3r, 2a, 2stl.

CLE: Mitchell 25p, 4a, 3r, 2stl. Merrill 26p, 3r, 1a, blk. Harden 13p, 11a, 4r, blk. Allen 19p, 8r, 2blk, 1a. 

FOURTH QUARTER

Qwan breaks out a windmill to open the final frame after stealing the ball from Sharife Cooper and pursuing Jaden Hardy in the backcourt. Just dunked on a do-over feed from Donovan Mitchell, too. He's a different type of player. 

Wizards not going away. Credit to Brian Keefe's crew.

Merrill has a career-high 32 points and counting. Dude's missed one shot and has a whole six minutes left to break a Cavs single-game three-point record.

Atkinson's called off the dogs.