Magic and Cavs split 4-game series
The Magic and Cavaliers enter their first round NBA playoff series having split the four times the sides met in the regular season — twice in Orlando and twice in Cleveland.
The contests were fierce and physical.
Here’s a look back at those matchups and what led to all games being decided by double digits between the East’s Nos. 4 and 5 seeds:
GAME 1 Dec. 6
Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Final score: Cavaliers 121, Magic 111 How it went down: Despite 42 points from Paolo Banchero, which at the time was a career high (later scored 43 at Denver), Cleveland pulled away. The Magic were without Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz and fell down by 23 points in the first half before fighting back to a single-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. Poor shooting from beyond the arc (2-for23) limited Orlando’s offense as it couldn’t slow down Donovan Mitchell (35 points) and Darius Garland (26).
GAME 2 Dec. 11
Location: Kia Center
Final score: Magic 104, Cavaliers 94 How it went down: Contributions from Goga Bitadze (15 points) and Joe Ingles (12) helped Banchero and Franz Wagner get the win, but it was Orlando’s defense that made the difference. The Magic denied Cleveland access to the paint when holding the Cavs to 15 points in the third quarter. Jamahl Mosley utilized a strong defensive unit (Banchero, Wagner, Anthony Black, Gary Harris and Jonathan Isaac) to help close out.
GAME 3 Jan. 22
Location: Kia Center
Final score: Cavaliers 126, Magic 99 How it went down: Cleveland led wire-to-wire and by as many as 36 points in a blowout that was never in doubt. Playing in their third game in four nights, the Magic were limited to 19 points in the first quarter and could do nothing but watch as reserve guard Sam Merrill (26 points on 8-for-13 from 3) caught fire from distance in catch-and-shoot situations. Limited to 34 points in the paint, Orlando had trouble attacking the basket largely due to center Jarrett Allen (2 blocks).
GAME 4 Feb. 22
Location: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Final score: Magic 116, Cavaliers 109
How it went down: In their first game out of the All-Star Break, the Magic were able to tie the season series thanks to a balanced offensive attack with six scorers in double figures, including reserve center Moe Wagner who totaled 22 points in 25 minutes. The Cavaliers, however, were without Mitchell due to an illness. Still, Orlando’s bench outscored Cleveland’s 63-24 on the road and the Magic scored 28 points off 19 turnovers.