The Cavs get punished in the second half of game four in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Cavs looked to be on fire in the first half, but once again went cold in the second half and fall to the Magic 112-89.
The Cavs opened the first quarter scoring six points unanswered, but the physical play took no time to show its teeth.
Within the games’ first few minutes, Max Strus and Paolo Banchero picked up two quick fouls for their respective squads. The first quarter also saw a pair of technicals for each side. Max Strus was unhappy with his second foul call and was whistled while arguing his case. Later in the quarter, Magic forward Franz Wagner got a technical of his own after pointing at Georges Niang. The Cavalier energizer was knocked to the floor attempting to defend a made shot from Wagner.
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm offensively, with the first quarter ending 23-22 in favor of Cleveland.
The second quarter was much better for the Cavs. By the end of the half, they were shooting the ball at a whopping 56% by the end of the half, and the defense played a big part in that. Cleveland forced 11 Magic turnovers and dominated the paint, outscoring Orlando 40-26 in the painted area.
When the buzzer rang and the players returned to the locker rooms for the midway point, the Cavs led 60-51.
Orlando must have heard quite the halftime speech because they came out with a different energy to start the second half. With about five minutes left in the third quarter, a made three from Strus ended a 17-2 run by the Magic. The score sat at 74-70.
The chippiness continued from the team in blue, as Darius Garland and Jalen Suggs were whistled for double technicals after jawing at the logo. Then it appeared that Wendell Carter Jr. charged over Niang and threw a shoulder without the ball. However, Carter Jr. was charged with just a common foul.
The Magic shot six of ten from deep in the period and score another 14 without a peep from the Cavs.
Despite an additional flagrant one for Max Strus, the fourth quarter didn’t spark any life back into the Cavs. They got dragged to a 112-89 final score after being outscored 61-29 in the second half.
Jarrett Allen led the team with 21 points and nine rebounds, but he was about the only bright spot. Donvoan Mitchell finished with 18 points, but didn’t score a single point in the second half of the game.
Franz Wagner was far and away the best player for Orlando, ending his night with 34 points and 13 rebounds.
Cleveland struggled from behind the arc, shooting just four of 17, while the Magic finished with 12 makes on 26 attempts from deep.
The series is now tied at two apiece and now heads back to Rocket Mortgage Field House for game five on Tuesday. A time still to be determined.
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