The Orlando Magic faced a major test on Sunday afternoon, going up against the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, who entered the matchup with a dominant 56-10 record and riding a 16-game winning streak. In a hard-fought battle, the Magic emerged victorious, snapping Cleveland’s streak with a 108-103 win, led by a standout performance from Paolo Banchero.
Following the game, Banchero spoke about the significance of securing such a key victory late in the regular season. “It’s a big win,” Banchero said, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. “Last game of the road trip. We knew this was going to be probably the toughest game—coming in here on national TV against one of the better teams in the league, also on a winning streak. So, big win.“
The Magic were fueled by Banchero’s game-high 24 points, along with 11 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and one block. Franz Wagner also delivered a strong performance, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal. With the win, Orlando improved to 32-37 on the season, while Cleveland dropped to 56-11. Despite the loss, the Cavaliers maintain a comfortable 7.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Banchero’s standout season continues
Banchero has been having a career-best season, averaging 25.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He’s shooting 45.0% from the field, 32.3% from beyond the arc, and 70.9% from the free-throw line, solidifying himself as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars.
Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic celebrates after scoring during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Atkinson provides update on Donovan Mitchell’s injury
Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell has been dealing with an injury, and the team opted to hold him out as a precautionary measure to ensure he’s fully healthy for the stretch run. Head coach Kenny Atkinson reassured reporters that the injury does not appear to be serious.
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“In Charlotte, there was a little bit of soreness,” Atkinson said. “I think that’s when it started. [It’s] definitely not something huge … not a huge deal. But I think we err on the side of caution. He always wants to play.”
Despite the injury concerns, Mitchell still put up solid numbers, finishing the night with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Cleveland are ready to fight the NBA playoffs and be a huge contender for the championship.
