A near wire-to-wire victory for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that is slowly, and quietly, playing their best basketball of the season. Here is who won and lost the game.
Winner - Donovan Mitchell’s Second Half
There is a Disney joke in here somewhere, but pun or not, the Cavs got a superstar effort from their best player in a game that held a little more meaning than usual. Mitchell’s 36 points, 27 of which came in the second half, are even more impressive given that he was only 2-8 from deep and attempted five free throws the whole night. Mitchell methodically and surgically picked apart Orlando’s defense, like here, where he did his patented high carry to lose the defender.
With the Cavs missing four rotation players and playing on the second end of a back-to-back, a sterling performance from Mitchell is exactly what they needed. The NBA’s leading second-half scorer lived up to that title, and it led the Cavs to an impressive road win.
Winner - Team Defense
The Cavs won this game on the defensive end, treating the Magic as they should be - the worst three-point shooting team in the Eastern Conference. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen patrolled the paint and stonewalled any attempts at the rim, forcing Orlando to work from the outside in. That, predictably, went quite poorly.
Desmond Bane is not having a great three-point shooting season, seemingly becoming stricken with whatever has plagued Orlando’s shooters over the last few years. Paulo Banchero is not a good shooter from deep, yet tied for the team lead in makes with three. Anthony Black has been good, but he isn’t striking fear into anyone. Orlando’s bench went 1-12 from deep, the lone make coming from Moe Wagner.
This game felt like the Cavs had a plan in mind and executed it perfectly, which has not appeared to be the case as much as one would expect. Cleveland’s team defenders all played well and pressured the Magic in all the ways they should.
Loser - De’Andre Hunter’s knee
Hunter was a relatively late scratch with knee soreness, something to monitor given his injury history. The tumultuous season for Hunter has, somehow, not involved any extended injury issues. It’s just been ineffectiveness, lineup shifts, and the odd trade rumor. Surely the Cavs will be cautious with Hunter as the All-Star break approaches.
Winner - The Backup Point Guards
Craig Porter Jr. has his place in Cavs’ fans’ hearts, and has stepped up this season as well, but tonight was about the other two point guards on Cleveland’s roster.
Lonzo Ball has been a disappointment for the Cavs, but he has the capability of putting together enough plays to make an impact. He had a stretch in the second quarter where he poked the ball free from Wagner, dove for possession, and immediately ran up the floor and got back on offense for an eventual bucket. If the shot isn’t falling, and it hasn’t for Ball this season, then those types of things are where he can make an impact.
Another quality draft find for the Cavs’ front office is Tyrese Proctor, who now has double-digit minutes in four of his last five games. Proctor had 12 points on 4-4 shooting, staying ready given the constantly changing rotations. With Darius Garland out, Proctor may get the occasional spurt of minutes to provide a little shooting, but his size also gives an additional wrinkle. Once Garland returns, Proctor’s minutes will surely decline, if not disappear. But he has some juice for a rookie second-round draft pick.