The Cleveland Cavaliers finally rolled out their fully healthy look on Sunday night, and the first half of that second preseason game offered plenty to chew on against Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic.
Cleveland opened with the projected starting five of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. Watson wasted no time making his presence felt, turning in impact plays at both ends. He helped force multiple turnovers and finished one sequence by setting up Mobley for an alley-oop in transition.
Harden set the tone early and never really let go. He poured in 13 points in the first quarter alone and didn’t miss a shot, going 4-for-4 from the floor. Mitchell and Mario Hezonja also had their share of highlight moments as Cleveland grabbed control.
The Cavs carried that momentum into the second quarter with a 10-4 run, highlighted by Allen knocking down a three-pointer and Hezonja racing out for an easy dunk against his former team. Cleveland’s defense tightened up from there, forcing six turnovers in the quarter while holding Orlando to 27% shooting.
By halftime, the Cavs were in front 61-50. Cleveland shot 45% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc, and 15-for-18 at the line. Harden led the way with 20 points at the break, while the Cavs also kept Banchero quiet, as he made just one of his ten attempts.
Orlando did make things uncomfortable after the break. Cleveland came out sluggish, hitting only one of its first nine shots over the first six minutes of the third quarter, and the Magic erased the gap to tie the game. The Cavs answered by scoring on their next three possessions, and Mobley added a jarring defensive moment when he blocked a dunk attempt by Jamaal Cain.
Once Orlando leaned into its reserves, Cleveland started finding answers again. Hezonja buried a corner three just before the shot clock expired, Sam Merrill chipped in with a three-pointer and a trip to the foul line, and Jaylon Tyson finished the third quarter on a heater with 10 points, including two threes. The Cavs went to the fourth with a 90-75 lead.
Cleveland opened the final period with a group of Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Thomas Bryant, Meleek Thomas, and Mario Hezonja. Bryant accounted for the first six points of the quarter with a pair of three-pointers, and Hezonja followed with one of his own.
With about eight minutes left, the Cavs went even deeper, bringing in Tyrese Proctor for his first action of the game alongside Tristan Enaruna and Craig Porter Jr. Bryant finished with 12 points and four rebounds in 6:48 of total game time, while the final minutes also brought moments from Proctor and Ernest Udeh, Jr.
The preseason setting didn’t make the performance any less encouraging. Harden finished with 24 points and led the offense, Mitchell and Tyson both delivered useful scoring nights, and Mobley’s offensive line wasn’t his sharpest, but his defensive influence showed up throughout. Watson, too, gave Cleveland another reminder of how much he can swing a game.
The same two teams will meet again Tuesday night in Orlando to wrap up the preseason.
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