Magic’s Wagner takes over game to even series
By the time Franz Wagner finished outscoring Cleveland by himself in the third quarter, what had been a competitive game turned into another rout in this first-round playoff series.
Wagner had 34 points and 13 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic held the Cavaliers scoreless for a secondhalf stretch of almost seven minutes, cruising to a 112-89 home win Saturday that tied the series at 2-2.
After putting up 60 points in the first half, Cleveland was outscored 37-10 in the third quarter and had only 29 points in the second half.
Wagner had 10 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter and 12 in the period, while the Cavaliers missed 14 of 18 shots.
“Once we came back from that nine-point deficit starting the third, and they took that timeout, I felt like OK, the momentum is swinging in our direction,” Magic big man Jonathan Isaac said.
It never swung back. “They held home court just like we did,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Now we get an opportunity to go home and play a bestof-three series with two games in Cleveland.”
The Magic have won six straight at home while losing six straight on the road.
Isaac (14 points, seven rebounds, two blocks) and Markelle Fultz (12 points, four rebounds) gave the Magic major help off the bench. Paolo Banchero, who had 35 points in Orlando’s 121-83 win in Game 3 on Thursday night, finished with nine points and five assists in his first single-digit scoring game since Nov. 29.
Jarrett Allen had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell had 18 points, all in the first half.
“Ten points [in a quarter] is outrageous,” Mitchell said. “We have to be better. I have to be better. I’m disappointed in myself, so it’s on me. You can’t have 18 points in the first half and zero in the second, and only four shots.”
Wagner opened the second half by converting a Cleveland turnover into a layup and hitting a freethrow-line jumper. He added a three-pointer and a three-point play in a 17-6 run that put Orlando up 68-67.
“He’s incredible,” said Wagner’s brother Mo, who contributed seven points and four rebounds. “His awareness, his control of the game is just great. He started off the game distributing the ball and let the game come to him.
“I’ve got to drive home with him so I want to keep it in check. I don’t want to exaggerate here, but that was one of the best games I’ve seen him play.”
Oklahoma City 106, at New Orleans 85:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points and the top-seeded Thunder took a 3-0 lead.
Friday’s late games
at Indiana 121, Milwaukee 118: Tyrese Haliburton hit a floater and completed a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left, capping his first postseason triple-double in his first home playoff game to give Indiana a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Myles Turner added 29 points and nine rebounds, both playoff career highs.
The Bucks’ Khris Middleton finished with a playoff-career high 42 points and had 10 rebounds and five assists after missing practice Thursday because of a sprained right ankle. He forced overtime by making a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds to go in regulation, banked in a three to tie the score with 6.7 seconds left in overtime and then missed a three at the buzzer trying to force a second overtime.
Damian Lillard added 28 points and eight assists, most coming after he hurt his left knee in the first quarter and then aggravated an Achilles tendon injury late in the fourth quarter. He and and Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf ) both are listed as doubtful for Sunday.
Minnesota 126, at Phoenix 109: Anthony Edwards scored 36 points, Rudy Gobert added 19 points and 14 rebounds and the Timberwolves used a hot-shooting third quarter to take a 3-0 series lead.