Saturday night the Orlando Magic triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers (89-112) in game four tying the series.
Cleveland suffered their worst playoff loss in franchise history in Game 3 falling to Orlando 89-112. Before Saturday, the Cavs were favored to defeat the Magic. The Cavs led the Magic in the first and second quarters. But, for the last half of the game, they were no match for Orlando. Although Donovan Mitchell scored 18 points in the first half, Orlando shut Mitchell down leaving him scoreless in the second half.
“You can’t have a drought like that,” Mitchell said. “It starts with me. I didn’t score in the second half. I’ve been starting second halves like that all series. Ten points is outrageous. We have to be better. I have to be better. I’m disappointed in myself and I’ll be better.”
During the second half, the Magic scored 37 points in the third quarter while the Cavs scored only 10 points. According to the Cavs Insider, this is the 7th straight post-season game where the Cavs have scored less than 100 points.
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosely said, “[The Magic] defensive effort was high-level and special. To hold [the Cavaliers] to 10 points in the third quarter, we said we’ll hang our heads on the defensive end.”
Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, “We had found something in the second quarter that worked,” said Bickerstaff. “We were extremely aggressive, played at a great tempo, got to the rim… In the third quarter, we didn’t get to those same spots. We didn’t play the same tempo. They came out and went on a run and we didn’t match it.”
Game 5 between the Magic and the Cavs is Monday night.
