The Orlando Magic came into Monday night’s matchup in Cleveland with a clear checklist from head coach Jamahl Mosley: start faster, defend better, and knock down shots more consistently. And early on, it looked like the message landed. The Magic jumped out to a 10-point lead after the first quarter, forced 16 turnovers on the night, and hit at a respectable 38.1% clip from deep in the first half.
But then Donovan Mitchell happened.
The Cavaliers’ star guard put on a show for the home crowd and a national TV audience, dropping 26 points in the first half and finishing with 45 in a 114-98 win over Orlando. Mitchell was surgical, hitting four threes in the opening half and slicing through defensive coverages with ease. Whether the Magic sent single coverage or tried to double him, Mitchell kept finding the ball-and the bucket.
“He got himself going,” Mosley said postgame. “We put two on him at times, but he kept finding his way back to the basketball.”
It wasn’t just Mitchell’s scoring that hurt Orlando-it was the timing. Several of his makes came after 50/50 balls bounced Cleveland’s way, turning potential stops into momentum-swinging threes. For a Magic team that came in looking to bounce back from a 14-point home loss to these same Cavs just two nights earlier, it was a frustrating case of déjà vu.
Despite the loss, Paolo Banchero reminded everyone why he’s the cornerstone of this young Magic squad. The second-year forward poured in a season-high 37 points, attacking from all three levels.
He knocked down a pair of threes, went 8-for-12 in the paint, and was efficient in the midrange, hitting 3-of-4. He also got to the line 13 times, making nine, and added 10 rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes of work.
“I thought he was ultra-aggressive, demanding the ball and commanding the floor,” Mosley said. “His rebounding was the thing we continue to challenge him on, and coming up with 10 tonight was big.”
Banchero’s ability to read double teams and make the right pass also stood out. While the box score didn’t overflow with assists, his decisions helped generate clean looks for teammates-though Orlando struggled to convert consistently.
Desmond Bane chipped in 19 points, including three triples, and rookie Anthony Black added 14. But outside of that trio, the Magic didn’t get much scoring punch. Orlando’s starters accounted for 83 of the team’s 98 points, and the bench unit couldn’t keep pace with Cleveland’s reserves, getting outscored 20-15.
Tyus Jones, who sat out Saturday’s game, was the first man off the bench and one of only two Magic reserves to hit a three through three quarters, along with Moe Wagner. Jonathan Isaac and rookie Tristan da Silva got late fourth-quarter minutes, with da Silva contributing five points in nine minutes. Isaac, however, went scoreless in five.
The lack of bench production wasn’t the only issue. Ball security, which had been a strength early, slipped as the game wore on.
Orlando didn’t commit a turnover in the first quarter but coughed it up six times in the second, leading to seven Cleveland points. The Cavaliers capitalized on 12 Magic turnovers overall, scoring 16 points off those miscues.
Jalen Suggs had a tough night, finishing with just four points and three turnovers, struggling to find rhythm against Cleveland’s backcourt pressure.
As for the rookies, second-round pick Noah Penda saw extended minutes, logging 14 through the first three quarters. The French forward had two points on 1-for-4 shooting, along with three boards, an assist, and a steal.
He didn’t see the floor in the fourth. Fellow rookie Jase Richardson got a brief five-minute run in the second quarter but didn’t register much impact, taking just one shot and grabbing a rebound.
The loss marks Orlando’s fourth straight defeat, dropping them to 23-22 on the season. With Franz Wagner still sidelined due to a left high ankle sprain, the Magic are searching for answers-and a spark-as they head to Miami for another tough road test on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to roll, picking up its fourth straight win to improve to 28-20. And with Mitchell playing at an elite level, the Cavaliers are starting to look like a team that’s finding its stride at just the right time.