CLEVELAND, Ohio — The streak had to end sometime.
After 16 consecutive victories, the longest winning run in franchise history, the [Cavs](https://www.cleveland.com/cavs) finally met their match in a grueling Sunday matinee at Rocket Arena, falling to the Orlando Magic in a physical 108-103 battle.
For a team that had seemingly solved every riddle thrown its way over the past month, Sunday’s loss was a harsh reminder of the thin margins that define the NBA’s elite.
The Cavs stormed out of the gate, controlling pace, space and execution in a dazzling 38-point first quarter. They looked every bit like the offensive juggernaut that had overwhelmed opponents all season.
But then, Orlando settled in.
Without Evan Mobley, who was sidelined with a foot contusion, Cleveland lacked a defensive anchor in the paint, and the Magic took full advantage.
After spotting the Cavs a 13-point lead early, Orlando’s relentless pressure, length, and physicality slowly wore Cleveland down. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was effective. The Magic turned the game into a rock fight, holding the Cavs below 25 points in each of the final three quarters, suffocating the spread offense that had become Cleveland’s calling card.
The game had all the makings of last season’s seven-game playoff war between these two squads.
Open shots were rare. Easy buckets were a luxury. Every possession was a battle. With both teams determined to deny clean looks, it became a parade to the free-throw line.
Orlando, the NBA’s third-ranked defense, took full advantage of the whistle, earning 34 free-throw attempts to Cleveland’s 20. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, despite inefficient shooting nights, bullied their way to the stripe, combining for 17 free-throw attempts and dictating the physicality of the game.
Still, even as Cleveland’s efficiency waned, the outcome remained in the balance. The game featured 19 lead changes.
But when it mattered most, the Magic were the team that stayed composed.
The Cavs, who had thrived in late-game execution all season, found themselves pressing. The ball movement that had fueled their dominance suddenly dried up, replaced by rushed isolation possessions.
Donovan Mitchell, in his return from a two-game absence due to a groin injury, shouldered the scoring load but never found his rhythm, finishing 9-of-28 for a team-high 23 points.
Cleveland’s shooting struggles underscored the loss. The Cavs had been nearly unbeatable this season when hitting their marks, but when their efficiency dipped, they became vulnerable.
Entering Sunday, they were 2-5 when shooting below 42.5% from the field and three of their 11 losses when shooting below 30% from deep. Against Orlando, they shot 41.7% overall and just 25% from beyond the arc—numbers that rarely equate to winning basketball.
Even in defeat, there was little panic from the Cavs. Their 56-11 record remains the NBA’s best, and this loss serves as a valuable lesson rather than a reason for concern. For a team with championship aspirations, adversity is inevitable. It’s how they respond that will define them.
**Up next**
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The Cavs head out west for their longest road trip of the season, starting with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. Eastern.