Cavaliers take 1-0 series lead with 97-83 win over Magic

BY TIM SHIRER

CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER

(CLEVELAND, OH) - Saturday afternoon the Cleveland Cavaliers began their first round playoff series with the Orlando Magic at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavs are trying to avenge last season’s first round humiliating 4-1 playoff loss to the New York Knicks.

During the regular season the Cavs and Magic split the four game series. The last time the two teams met was nearly two months ago prior to today’s matchup and that was on February 22 in Orlando, the Magic won that contest 116-109. On Saturday the Cavs led from start to finish with the game never being in doubt as they cruised to a 97-83 to take a 1-0 series lead.

The Cavs got off to a quick start hitting five three point shots and taking a 19-8 lead after an Evan Mobley three with 7:39 left in the opening quarter. After a personal foul on Jonathan Isaac by Darius Garland, Isaac hit both free throws to pull the Magic to with five points at 23-18 with 4:50 left on the first quarter clock. Just 1:32 later the Cleveland lead was back to ten at 29-19 after Jarrett Allen drove the lane and hit a layup with 3:18 left in the quarter. As was expected the Magic was not going away and cut the Cavs lead to 33-26 at the end of the first quarter. Mobley and Donovan Mitchell led all scorers in the first quarter with 10 points apiece. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with eight points. The Cavs won the battle of the boards with 11 and the Magic managed nine.

The second quarter was more physical. With 9:29 left Moritz Wagner was called for a loose ball foul, Isaac Okoro took exception to Wagner’s physical nature and let him know as he bumped him, Wagner of course did a little acting and acted like he was shoved by three men and nearly fell to the floor. Okoro was charged with a technical foul. Joe Ingles shot the free throw and pulled Orlando to 35-29. The Magic cut the Cavs’ lead to 35-31 with 9:04 left when Moritz Wagner dropped in a layup. With 8:19 left Markell Fultz fouled Georges Niang hard, Niang did not like it and went after Fultz. Fultz was charged with a flagrant 1 after a review and both players were charged with technical fouls. After the dust settled and free throws were shot the Cavs lead was 40-33. The Cavs matched the Magic the rest of the quarter and then outscoring Orlando 13-8 to take a 53-41 halftime lead. Mobley led all scorers in the first half with 16 points, Mitchell also had 14 for the Cavs. Banchero led the Magic with 11 points. The Cavs were still winning the battle of the boards 22-19.

The third quarter the Cavs continued to expand their lead. After the Magic cut the Cavs lead to 55-50 with 8:24 left and then 57-53 on a three pointer by Banchero with 5:27 left in the third the Cavs outscored the 16-5 for the remainder of the third period to take a 73-58 lead to the fourth quarter. Through three quarters Mitchell led everyone with 21 points, Banchero led the Magic with 19.

With 11:19 left on the clock in the fourth quarter the Cavs extended their lead to 78-58 sending a message to the Magic and the NBA that they mean business this postseason. The Magic did cut the lead to nine points at 80-71 with 7:01 left game but the Cavs countered that run and cruised the rest of the way to a 97-83 win.

Mitchell led all scorers with 30 points. Banchero led the Magic with 24 in the losing effort. Allen and Mobley also had 16 points for the Cavs, and both had double doubles as Allen pulled down 18 rebounds and Mobley pulled down 11.