Cavaliers Lose To The Magic 116-109: Game Recap 2/22/24

Post-Game Recap

3 Notable Notes Around the Loss

1 – Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers

The Cleveland Cavaliers started the first game back after the all-star break with a thud with 19 turnovers as a team.  

2 – Shots

The Magic also shot 14 more field goals than the Cavaliers including four more three-point shots for Orlando.

3 – Bench

Cleveland’s bench also had a slow start after the break, being outscored 63 to 24.

Game Recap

In Thursday night’s game, Moritz Wagner led the charge with 22 points, supported by his younger brother Franz, who contributed 14, as the Orlando Magic triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-109, marking just the third loss for the Cavaliers in 21 games.

Despite their formidable form since mid-December, the Cavaliers had to navigate the game without their leading scorer and All-Star, Donovan Mitchell, sidelined due to an undisclosed illness. Mitchell, pivotal in Cleveland’s ascent to second place in the Eastern Conference, had showcased his skills in the 3-point contest and his fifth All-Star appearance the previous weekend in Indianapolis.

Orlando faced adversity as well, losing starting guard Jalen Suggs to a head injury midway through the third quarter, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the game. However, the Magic’s bench, notably Cole Anthony, who notched 13 points and six assists in 18 minutes, rose to the occasion, outscoring Cleveland’s reserves 63-24.

The game saw back-and-forth action, with Moritz Wagner’s crucial 3-pointer extending Orlando’s lead to 107-95 with 4:41 left. Although Cleveland mounted a late surge, spurred by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, Paolo Banchero, despite a challenging shooting night, sealed the victory for Orlando with a pivotal 3-pointer.

Jarrett Allen recorded a double-double for the Cavaliers with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Darius Garland contributed 18 points and 10 assists. Banchero, battling a flu bug since his All-Star appearance, struggled initially but played a key role in Orlando’s lead-building efforts.

Cleveland faced a demanding schedule ahead, with five games in seven nights and nine games over the next 14 days, including seven back-to-back matchups, underscoring the challenges awaiting them in the final stretch of the regular season.

Up Next

Away Versus 76ers on Friday 2/23.