Cavaliers take 2-0 series lead vs. Magic with 96-86 win
The Cavs took care of business at home.
With a 96-86 win, the Cleveland Cavaliers are now up 2-0 on the Orlando Magic.
Nightly Notables
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 23 points. Evan Mobley (17 points), Jarrett Allen (16 points), Darius Garland (15 points) and Isaac Okoro (10 points also finished in double figures.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 21 points.
Well, that happened...
Mitchell, and by extension the Cavaliers’ offense, was hot early. They scored around league-average efficiency — a big jump from Game 1 — and looked like they were in a rhythm.
But the Magic made a smart change: They started blitzing and trapping Mitchell — something the Cavs struggled with last year in their first round loss to the New York Knicks and don’t have reliable counters for. There were solid counters in spots — Darius Garland taking three-pointers off the bounce helps — but nothing that stopped the Cavs’ offense from being slowed down.
Fourteen of Mitchell’s team-high 24 points came in the first quarter. After a 5-7 start, Mitchell was 4-15 the rest of the way. His drop-off was palpable.
Expect the Magic to trap Mitchell early and often in Game 3. It’s on the Cavs to do something about it.
Big Picture
Cleveland is now in control of this series, full-stop. Even if the games are grimy and low-scoring, the Cavs score more efficiently than the Magic. Cleveland’s role players are playing better. And Mitchell is the best player in the series.
Yes, the Cavs need two more wins. The Magic will likely play better back in Orlando. The Magic’s trapping will have to be dealt with. But this is the Cavs’ series to lose. Their Game 2 win sealed that.
Up next: The series now shifts to Orlando for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday with a 7 p.m. tipoff.