Darius Garland finally had to enter his series to give the Cavaliers more chances. The message got through since the playmaker had an excellent first quarter. He is aggressive and, after baskets near the circle, connects shots from far away.
The Magic struggled to find their way to the rim, although two winning baskets from Paolo Banchero did some good. But the dynamic, carried by Garland, is clearly on the side of Cleveland (although deprived of Jarrett Allen, injured in the ribs), with a last 3-point shot from Caris LeVert, almost at the buzzer (33-23).
The Magic resisted well in the second quarter. The Cavaliers will have a strong time, with a good defense which allows them to hurt in attack, but without completely making a hole. Here again, Paolo Banchero is precious.
Evan Mobley's decisive counter
So much so that the two teams were very close at halftime (48-47). In the third quarter, the All-Star continued his work of demolishing the Cleveland defense at mid-distance. His baskets are breathing space for an Orlando team which passes in front for a few moments, but gives in to the baskets of Max Strus (75-70).
Starting off on a big basis, with very prolific first minutes, the fourth quarter quickly transformed into a duel between Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero. The first finally seems to be in his match, the second continuing his momentum, despite some difficult choices at times.
Which is then confirmed, with missed shots, while Evan Mobley comes to support his rear. The interior even carries out the action of the match, with a counter on Franz Wagner who had the equalizing ball. Paolo Banchero can score the last basket of the match at 3-points, the Cavaliers win 104-103 and lead 3-2!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Darius Garland at the start, Donovan Mitchell at the end. Both players owed everyone a rematch and everyone had their moment. The leader woke up in the first quarter, with 17 points. The second waited until the last act to show his advantage, with 14 units. The duo finished with 51 points in total and even if everything was not perfect for the former Jazz player (9/23 shooting, 4 lost balls), the Cavaliers found an aggressive back line which weighed on the match .
– Paolo Banchero’s effort. With 39 points, including 27 in the second half, the Magic All-Star acted as a leader. He carried his team by successfully stringing together mid-distance baskets. Only, in the end, undoubtedly tired and sometimes greedy, he complicated his life with less clean shots. But without him, Orlando would never have been this close to taking Game 5.
– Evan Mobley at the best of times. Without Jarrett Allen by his side, the Cavaliers' interior played a serious game, working in the shadows, with 14 points and 13 rebounds. But he scored two important baskets in the last 100 seconds, then especially countered Franz Wagner's attempt to ensure his team's victory. Referee of the Mitchell – Banchero duel, and orphan of Jarrett Allen, he made the difference.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
