The Orlando Magic face the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday in a key Eastern Conference matchup
Game time: 7 p.m., Rocket Arena, Cleveland
TV: Fan Duel Sports
Betting line: Magic +5.5
LAST GAME:
Donovan Mitchell poured in 36 points, including 17 during the fourth quarter, as Cleveland defeated Orlando, 119-105, at a sold-out Kia Center. Jaylon Tyson scored 17 points for the Cavaliers, while Evan Mobley added 13 points. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 27 points and Desmond Bane netted 20 points. Cleveland shot 53.1 percent from the floor and was 15-of-34 from three-point range, while Orlando struggled, shooting 40.7 percent and was 11-of-40 from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers led 55-48 at halftime, then pulled away early in the final stanza, going on a 10-2 run and extending their lead to 18 points. Cleveland is 9-3 in their last 12 regular season matchups against the Magic, including winning in Orlando on Saturday night 119-105 (+14). Cleveland has also won 5-straight games against Eastern Conference opponents (all road wins). Since Dec. 29, the Cavaliers are 10-4 and havealso won 5 of their last 6 games overall. Cleveland has also won 3-straight games since Jan. 21, marking the 3rd time this season theyhave won at least 3 consecutive games (longest win streak this season is 4 straight wins from Nov. 2-8).
PROJECTED STARTERS
MAGIC
G Anthony Black
G Jalen Suggs
C Wendell Carter Jr
F Desmond Bane
F Paolo Banchero
CAVALIERS
F Evan Mobley
F Jarrett Allen
C Dean Wade
G Jaylon Tyson
G Donovan Mitchell
INJUY REPORT
MAGIC
Colin Castelton: Out ( G League)
KJ Simpson: Out (hip)
Colin Castleton: Out (G League)
Franz Wagner: Out (Ankle)
CAVALIERS
Darius Garland: Out (Toe)
De'Andre Hunter: Questionable (Knee)
Chris Livingston: Out (G League)
Sam Merrill: Questionable (Hand)
Max Strus: Out (Foot)
Luke Travers: Out (G League)
QUOTABLE
Magic guard Jalen Suggs on being back in the lineup: “Yeah, I feel great playing basketball again. It felt great to make plays, hear the crowd, just do all that in real time, have that experience again. So, it was love. Don't like losing, but sometimes you can't control that. So, you know, I feel good playing out there. I feel good to be back with the brothers, and we'll keep working on building.”
Magic guard Desmond Bane on the recent struggles: "Yeah, I mean I think that's been our struggle as of late, just how we're going to manufacture good looks and good possessions time after time. For the most part, I thought that we played a good brand of basketball, got some open shots throughout the meat of the game and shots just didn't fall. But yeah, especially down the stretch, we got to find ways to generate good looks for us."
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of MagicRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com