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Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland lead Cleveland Cavs over red-hot Orlando Magic
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- Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland lead Cleveland Cavs over red-hot Orlando Magic
CLEVELAND — A quarter of the way through this season, the Cavaliers defeated one of the NBA's hottest teams on Wednesday night with the Orlando Magic visiting Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse .
The Magic (14-7) had won nine of their past 10 games. By comparison, the Cavs (12-9) had won seven of their last 10 games after injuries hit them hard out of the gate this season.
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The Cavs and Magic hadn't played since Saturday, when Cleveland won 110-101 at Detroit and Orlando lost 129-101 at Brooklyn . In other words, neither team had the built-in excuse of fatigue from back-to-back games when they clashed for the first of their four meetings this season. The Cavs and Magic will reunite Dec. 11 and Jan. 22 in Orlando and Feb. 22 in Cleveland.
The Cavs are now 6-6 at home this season and 6-3 on the road. The Magic are 5-5 on the road and 9-2 at home.
See our live blog from the game below.
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze, left, shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavs beat Orlando Magic 121-111
It wasn't quite as smooth sailing as they would have liked in the second half, but the Cavs went on to defeat the Orlando Magic 121-111 Wednesday night.
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Donovan Mitchell led the way with a team-high 35 points, along with seven rebounds and six assists. Darius Garland finished with 26 points and nine assists. Max Strus added 17 points, five rebounds and six assists and Evan Mobley contributed 16 points, five rebounds and two assists.
For the Magic, Paolo Banchero scored a game-high 42 points to go with six rebounds and nine assists.
Jarrett Allen commits fifth foul, walks down the tunnel to the Cavs locker room
Cavs center Jarrett Allen had the ball stolen from him by Magic forward Franz Wagner . The two raced down the floor on on a fast break for the Magic, which ended with Allen fouling Wagner, his fifth of the game.
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Allen then quickly walked down the tunnel to the Cavs locker room, with a few Cavs personnel members following him.
The Cavs hold a 115-105 lead with 3:17 left in the fourth quarter.
Magic force a Cavs timeout with an 8-0 run in fourth quarter
The Cavs had a 16-point lead reduced to eight points with a little more than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Magic forward Paolo Banchero made a jump shot, giving him 36 points, and Orlando suddenly trailed 106-98, prompting the Cavs to call timeout with 7:17 left to play.
Cavs' Georges Niang makes circus shot early in the fourth quarter vs. Magic
With 11:08 left to play, Cavs forward Georges Niang stumbled as he drove through the paint while the Magic's Joe Ingles defended him.
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No worries for Niang. He flipped the ball over his head and made the circus shot to give Cleveland a 104-86 advantage.
Cleveland Cavs lead Orlando Magic 99-86 entering the fourth quarter
The Cavs held a 99-86 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
With 30 seconds left in the quarter, point guard Darius Garland made a 3-pointer at the top of the key. The Cavs went 13 of 27 shooting (48.1%) on 3-pointers through three quarters.
Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points entering the final quarter.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Donovan Mitchell and Georges Niang boost Cavs' lead to 14 points late in the third quarter vs. the Magic
After a third-quarter rally by the Magic, the Cavs extended their lead to 92-78 with 2:34 left in the quarter.
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It happened when All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell made a 3-pointer with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter and forward Georges Niang made another 3-pointer on the Cavs' next possession.
Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell and Orlando's Paolo Banchero are scoring machines
After Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell made a 3-pointer with 5:53 left in the third quarter, Magic forward Paolo Banchero answered with a three-point play. Banchero's successful jump shot and free throw cut the Cavs' lead to 83-75 with 5:39 left in the third quarter.
The play gave Banchero a season-high 32 points. His previous season high was 30 points.
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Mitchell's aforementioned 3-pointer gave him 28 points.
Magic cut deficit to five points vs. Cavs with Paolo Banchero leading Orlando's rally
With 7:30 left in the third quarter, the Cavs' lead had been trimmed to 75-70 when Magic forward Paolo Banchero made a 3-pointer.
Banchero scored nine points in the first five minutes of the third quarter to help the Magic rally from a 13-point halftime deficit. With 6:57 left in the third quarter, he had a game-high 29 points.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) shoots over Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavs lead Orlando Magic 65-52 at halftime
The Cavs will spend the second half trying to hold off the type of poor stretch that has plagued them at times this season.
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At the half, Donovan Mitchell has a team high 23 points to go with four rebounds and two assists. Max Strus has 16 points, two rebounds and four assists.
Evan Mobley was called for his third foul just before the half and was taken out for the final minute.
For the Magic, Paolo Banchero has 20 points.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots in front of Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and forward Isaac Okoro (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Magic guard Jalen Suggs helped off the floor in second quarter against Cavs and ruled out at halftime
The Magic were struggling to chip away at the Cavs' 20-plus-point lead, and they'll also now be without guard Jalen Suggs.
Suggs returned to the floor after his right ankle appeared to bother him in the opening quarter, but with 4:55 left in the second quarter, he had to be helped off the court.
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At halftime, the Magic ruled him out for the rest of the game with what they labeled a "right ankle strain."
Suggs played nine minutes but did not score.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs holds his leg after being injured during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavs open up 20-point lead over Magic in second quarter
The Cavs are cruising, led by Donovan Mitchell's 15 and Max Strus' 14 points. A Strus 3-pointer from the elbow just pushed the Cavs' lead to 50-27 with 7:11 left in the second quarter.
Once again, Strus has shown his ability to fit well alongside the Cavs' core four of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
The Cavs recently discussed how Strus has been able to make an immediate impact with the team's identity and culture .
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) grabs a rebound next to Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavs lead Magic 37-20 at the end of the first quarter
Forward Dean Wade gave the Cavs five points off the bench to help them earn a 37-20 lead over the Magic at the end of the first quarter. It was Cleveland's largest first-quarter lead this season.
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Wade had been sidelined for six games with a sprained right ankle, but he returned to action for the game against the Magic. He made a 3-pointer off an assist from forward Evan Mobley with 1:02 left in the opening quarter. Wade then missed another 3-pointer but scored on a put back with 1 second remaining in the first quarter.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) knocks a rebound away from Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs, center, in front of Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavs build 28-14 lead vs. Magic with Donovan Mitchell dominating early
The Magic called timeout with 3:58 left in the first quarter after All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell drove to the hoop for a layup and a 28-14 Cavs lead.
Mitchell had scored 15 points to that point. He made his first six shots, including three from 3-point range.
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavs and Max Strus begin game on fire from 3-point range
The Cavs led the Magic 18-12 during the first stoppage of play with 5:59 left in the opening quarter.
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The early advantage had a lot to do with the Cavs beginning the game 4 of 5 on 3-pointers. Small forward Max Strus made his first three 3-point attempts, and All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell made his first one.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs appears to hurt an ankle
Magic guard Jalen Suggs seemed to be bothered by his right ankle after going for a loose ball shortly before Orlando called timeout with 5:59 left in the first quarter. Suggs was not in the game when play resumed. He was 0 for 2 from the field with a steal.
Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) dunks between Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, left, and forward Evan Mobley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Below is some pregame information about the Cavs and Magic.
What is the injury report for Cavs vs. Magic?
The Cavs have ruled out Caris LeVert (left knee/injury management), Ty Jerome (right ankle sprain) and Ricky Rubio (not with the team). Cleveland also listed Dean Wade (right ankle sprain) as questionable, but he is active. Wade entered the game with 3:58 left in the first quarter.
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The Magic have ruled out Kevon Harris (coach's decision), Wendell Carter Jr. (fractured left hand) and Markelle Fultz (left knee tendinitis). Orlando also listed Jonathan Isaac (right ankle sprain) as questionable. He is inactive.
What is the history between the Cavs and Magic?
The Cavs have an all-time record of 63-59 against the Magic in the regular season. The Cavs have won six of the last seven games in the series, including all four matchups last season.
When the Cavs and Magic met Oct. 12 during the 2023-24 preseason, Cleveland lost 108-105 at home.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) shoots in front of Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland at center of milestone alert
Entering Wednesday's game, Cavs point guard Darius Garland had made 577 career 3-pointers in the regular season. With two more successful 3-pointers, Garland would move into seventh place on the franchise's all-time list of 3-pointers made. Garland would surpass former Cavs guard Daniel Gibson , who made 578 3-pointers during his time with the organization.
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How can I watch, stream or listen to Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic?
The game will be televised locally on Bally Sports Ohio and broadcast on the radio via WTAM (1100-AM), WMMS (100.7-FM) and WNZN (89.1-FM).
More Cleveland Cavaliers news
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How Max Strus is fitting with Cavaliers: 'Max is a dog. Max is nasty': Sign-and-trade acquisition helping to form Cavs' new identity in 2023-24
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland lead Cavs over Orlando Magic
