The Cavaliers didn’t need style points in Orlando-they just needed the win. And they got it, grinding out a 119-105 road victory over the Magic in a game that started sluggish but ended with Cleveland flexing exactly what’s made them so dangerous lately: defense, depth, and a closer in Donovan Mitchell.
Now sitting at 27-20, the Cavs have won six of their last eight and 10 of their last 14. They’re not making headlines every night, but they’re stacking wins, and that’s what matters in a crowded Eastern Conference race.
**First Half? Forgettable.
Second Half? Mitchell Time.
**
Let’s be honest-the first half had all the hallmarks of a team on the second night of a back-to-back. The energy was flat, the offense disjointed, and shots just weren’t falling. Mitchell and Evan Mobley combined to shoot 7-of-22 before halftime, and the Cavs couldn’t find a consistent rhythm.
But Mitchell knows when it’s time to take over. And in the second half, he did just that.
He dropped 10 points in the third quarter to give Cleveland some breathing room, then went full takeover mode in the fourth-17 more points, three assists, and a whole lot of control. When the Magic tried to make a push, Mitchell shut the door.
He finished the night with 36 points on 15-of-30 shooting, along with nine assists, five rebounds, and two steals. That’s what stars do-they show up when the game needs them most.
Defense First, Always
While Mitchell lit it up late, the defense was the foundation. Cleveland packed the paint and challenged Orlando to beat them from outside. The Magic took the bait but couldn’t cash in, going just 11-of-40 from three.
Meanwhile, the Cavs hit over 44 percent from deep and dominated the painted area on both ends. That’s a winning formula.
Mobley didn’t have the offensive pop he showed against Sacramento-he finished with 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting-but his defense remained elite. He anchored the interior, forced tough looks, and helped neutralize Orlando’s size advantage. Even when the shot isn’t falling, Mobley’s impact is felt.
Bench Comes Through
The supporting cast delivered, too. Jaylon Tyson poured in 17 points, giving the Cavs a needed scoring lift.
Tyrese Proctor made the most of his limited run, scoring 12 points in under 10 minutes. Dean Wade had one of those classic under-the-radar games-10 points on perfect shooting, plus three steals and two blocks.
That’s the kind of across-the-board contribution that wins games in January.
For Orlando, Paolo Banchero led the way with 27 points, and Desmond Bane added 20. But the Magic couldn’t keep up once Mitchell hit his stride and the Cavs tightened the screws defensively.
This wasn’t Cleveland’s cleanest performance. But it didn’t need to be.
They leaned on their identity-defense, depth, and a star who knows when to take over. And that’s how you win on the road in the dog days of the NBA season.