Orlando, Fla. – The Cleveland Cavaliers showcased their dominance on Tuesday night, defeating the Orlando Magic with ease by a score of 122-82 at the Kia Center, marking their first win against the Magic since last season’s Eastern Conference playoffs. This victory not only solidifies the Cavs’ top position in the league but also sends a clear message about their capability to bounce back from adversity.
Despite entering the game from different trajectories—Cleveland on the heels of a win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and Orlando riding high from their own recent victory against the Washington Wizards—the Cavaliers took control early. Leading by as much as 42 points at one point during the contest, the game was never really close. Cavaliers’ head coach, Kenny Atkinson, clearly had his squad prepared and motivated after their previous playoff loss.
Following the game, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley remarked candidly, “There is no rhyme or reason, we got our butts kicked. You give Cleveland a ton of credit for how they’re playing and what they’re doing.” His disappointment reflected the lack of execution from his team, especially when following up on their previous playoff series.
For the Magic, the absence of All-Defensive guard Jalen Suggs loomed large, with this being the 13th game he has missed due to a left thigh contusion. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers were missing two-time All-Star point guard Darius Garland, sidelined with a left hip contusion. Nevertheless, the Cavs found plenty of scoring from their other players, as five different Cavaliers scored in double figures. The standout performance came from Max Strus, who contributed significantly to Cleveland's offensive output with five three-pointers and helped his team shoot 59.4% from beyond the arc, connecting on 19 of 32 long-range attempts.
Magic forward Paolo Banchero, making his first appearance against Cleveland since the playoffs, led Orlando with 26 points. Despite his individual success, he expressed concern about the team’s overall performance, saying, “They’re a high-powered offense. They have a lot of shooters and it’s not like we didn’t know who is out there on the floor. They just outplayed us.”
Echoing Banchero’s sentiments, Mosley emphasized the importance of starting strong, especially after the Magic fell behind by 18 points at the end of the first quarter, mirroring issues from their earlier matchup this season. The early deficit proved to be insurmountable.
Orlando’s shooting woes were glaring, as they achieved only 17.9% from three-point territory, something Banchero addressed post-game. He stated, “So, you could say it’s because we shot 18% from 3 but I could say there’s 3 or 4 other things why we lost as well.” Throughout the game, their offense struggled to find rhythm, with significant input needed from the bench to support their starters.
Further complicatint matters for the Magic, guard Cole Anthony suffered what was later described as a hyperextended left knee, leaving the game early and requiring assistance from training staff. A visibly disappointed Anthony stated, “I’ve beenbetter. I’ve definitely beenbetter. Would’ve preferred not to hurt my knee tonight, but you know, that's life. Stuff happens.” His contributions, before the injury, tallied up to 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Despite the injuries and offensive struggles, there existed brief moments of hope for the Magic. Franz Wagner played aggressively, scoring 19 points and serving as the focal point during some offensive sequences. Yet, by the time the duo of Banchero and Wagner found their rhythm, they were unable to close the vast gap the Cavaliers had established.
Orlando’s loss brought their record to 29-31, casting shadows on their playoff ambitions. Following the game, they will continue their seven-game homestand with expectations to bounce back against the Golden State Warriors. With mounting pressures and injuries, they will need to recalibrate quickly.
Conversely, the Cavaliers improved their record to 48-10, exemplifying their status as championship contenders. After this emphatic win, they will look to build momentum moving forward, leveraging the confidence gained from this victory.
Both teams have much to reflect on, with the Magic needing to bolster their shot selection and depth, especially if they intend to remain competitive. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers must maintain their intensity and chemistry as the regular season progresses.