Magic battle but fall short at Cavaliers for 6th straight loss
The Orlando Magic were always facing an uphill battle entering Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. For starters, Cleveland had two days of rest while Orlando was playing on the second night of a back-to-back. In addition, Jamahl Mosley‘s squad was without Jalen Suggs (illness), Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain), Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) on the road.
So it wasn’t surprising when Cleveland pulled away late against a short-handed and fatigued opponent en route to a 136-131 victory behind a combined 68 points from Donovan Mitchell (42) and James Harden (26) in a high-scoring affair. To Orlando’s credit, however, the group fought hard despite its circumstances and found itself ahead by as many as seven points in the first half, within two of the Cavs in the third quarter and down just three points in the fourth after falling behind by double figures. Ultimately, however, Cleveland (45-27) notched 105 points through three quarters by outshooting Orlando from the floor (60% vs.
49% FG) and controlling the fastbreak (14-6 scoring edge) to win its fourth consecutive contest. Dropping their sixth in a row, the Magic (38-34) return home to host the Sacramento Kings at Kia Center on Thursday. Banchero’s big night Banchero notched nine of Orlando’s first 19 points and scored 16 in the opening quarter after one stretch where he recorded seven in a row.
Posting 21 points by halftime, Banchero was quick to find his spots with turnaround jumpers and aggressive downhill attacks that led to multiple trips to the free throw line. Shooting 7 for 8 at the charity stripe before the break, he finished 13 for 15. He scored 30-plus points in a second consecutive game and for the 12th time this season.
Although he grabbed six rebounds with five assists, he turned the ball over five times as well. Rest of starters Desmond Bane hit his first 3-pointer on Orlando’s opening possession and scored 12 in the first half. He was Orlando’s only other starter to reach double figures after two quarters before he finished with 17.