After several minutes where the open shots did not go in at all, the Magic took the temperature of the start of Game 3. The Cavaliers had taken advantage of the opponent's clumsiness to take a small lead, quickly filled, and Franz Wagner and company even went ahead , for the first time in the series! Cleveland misses the target to end the quarter and Orlando, buoyed by its momentum, finishes strong despite poor shooting (31-21).
Jonathan Isaac, with a winning basket and a dunk, pushes the Cavaliers at the start of the second quarter. Paolo Banchero imitates him, with shots that are not always easy, and Orlando goes 10-0 to take a 21-point lead. Donovan Mitchell reduced the gap before the break (61-45). Quickly at the start of the second half, the Magic regained a more comfortable distance. Paolo Banchero connects difficult shots from mid-range but he is in his evening, unlike the Cavaliers, still struggling offensively.
On a winning shot from Jalen Suggs, which concludes a 12-0, the 30 point difference is crossed! JB Bickerstaff then begins, even before the last quarter, to open his bench with the arrivals of Marcus Morris and Tristan Thompson… (96-61). The last quarter therefore has no interest and the Magic slap the Cavaliers by almost 40 points (121-83) to return to 2-1.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Paolo Banchero, pattern size. Like his teammates, the All-Star was clumsy in the opening minutes, even when his shots were open. But then it was sickening. The defenders could well hinder him, he found the path to the basket from mid-distance. Dominant, the rookie of the year 2023 finished with 31 points on 13/26 shooting, 14 rebounds and 5 assists.
– The ordeal of the Riders. The first moments suggested that Cleveland really had control over this series against a Florida team decidedly incapable of putting up points. But once they got into the deep end, the Magic were very comfortable and more so than the Cavaliers. With 16 points at 26% shooting success, the third quarter was particularly difficult for Donovan Mitchell and company.
– Jalen Suggs is fine. He scared everyone and also weighed down his team with his knee injury in Game 2. His match proved that he had recovered well. With 24 points at 9/11 on the shoot including 3/5 at 3-pts and above all omnipresent activity in defense, the rear was the perfect lieutenant of Paolo Banchero.
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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.
