The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their impressive start to the playoffs, defeating the Orlando Magic 96-86 on Monday night to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference series.
Donovan Mitchell set the tone for the Cavs, leading the team in scoring with 23 points. Jarrett Allen was a force on the boards, grabbing 20 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds. Evan Mobley added 17 points, while Allen scored 16.
The Magic struggled to keep up with the Cavs’ intensity, shooting only 36% from the field and 9 of 35 from three-point range. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 21 points, while Franz Wagner added 18.
The Cavs took control of the game early, leading from start to finish. They built a 12-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Magic made a run in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 straight points to cut the lead to 87-78, but Mitchell came back in and scored two quick baskets to restore order for the Cavs.
The Magic will host Game 3 of the series on Thursday in Orlando. They will need to find a way to improve their shooting if they want to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole.
