Magic stun Cavaliers in streak-snapping win
CLEVELAND — The top-seeded Cavaliers entered Rocket Arena averaging a league-leading 122.8 points, shooting an NBA-best 39% from 3, and boasting the No. 1 offensive rating (121.8).
But Sunday at home against the Magic in front of a national TV audience on ABC told a different story.
Behind a combined 46 points from Paolo Banchero (24) and Franz Wagner (22), Orlando snapped Cleveland’s franchise-record 16 game winning streak, 108-103, when the group silenced Cavs fans in attendance.
After a pair of free throws from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope put Orlando ahead by three points with 31 seconds remaining in the game, Wagner hit two more to make it a two-possession game with 7.8 on the clock and put his team ahead for good.
The loss is just Cleveland’s fifth at home this season when the Cavs (56-11) shot 10 of 40 (25%) from distance.
Orlando trailed by as many as 13 points in a contest that featured 19 lead changes.
And Sunday’s game was far different from Feb. 25 when the East foes, who went the distance in last year’s best-of-seven first round playoff series, met at Kia Center. There Cleveland crushed Orlando by 40.
After going 3-2 on their five-game road trip, the Magic (32-37) return home Wednesday when the Rockets make their lone trip to Kia Center. Orlando fell by 13 at Houston last Monday.
Starting 5
Although Cole Anthony was available after he missed the past two games because of a left big toe strain, the Magic guard came off the bench and was under a minutes restriction, the Orlando Sentinel learned prior to tip-off.
In place of Anthony, veteran guard Cory Joseph made his third straight and fourth start of the season. He joined regulars Caldwell-Pope, Wagner, Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. at Cleveland.
Anthony was ruled out at intermission due to the left foot injury after he played six minutes before the break.
Without Anthony, Banchero helped Joseph initiate the offense throughout the game. The Magic forward was aggressive getting to the free throw line where he made 9 of 11 attempts.
But neither Banchero nor Wagner were efficient from the floor before the final stretch of the game. Wagner ended 8 of 19 from the floor despite shooting 1 of 6 from 3-point range.
Still, Banchero was able to convert a trio of 3s when Orlando as a whole shot 13 of 31 (41.9%) from beyond the arc.
Carter pieced together a double-double even before reaching the fourth quarter by way of 16 points and 10 rebounds. He ended with 16 and 14 in 35 minutes.
Caldwell-Pope helped spread the floor when he shot 3 of 5 from distance but he picked up his third foul with one minute left in the first half. Despite picking up his fifth foul with two minutes left, his third triple of the afternoon tied the game at 100 with 1:41 left.
Second unit
Caleb Houstan, who’s seen an increase of on-court action this road trip, was first off the bench for Orlando.
It was second-year pro Anthony Black (17 points) who led the Magic bench in scoring. No other reserve cracked four points.
Black helped turn defense into offense late in the third quarter when his on-ball pressure caused some problems for Cleveland. He later converted a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that put the Magic 92-91 with 6:46 left in the contest.
Rookie watch
Rookie Tristan da Silva remained in the rotation but played a limited eight minutes.
The 6-8 wing was held scoreless when he only took two shots and grabbed one rebound.
Up next …
Magic vs. Rockets
When: 7 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Kia Center
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