Game ID: 22301205
Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 37 28 34 22 121ORL 20 32 34 25 111
CLE vs ORL ScoutingCLE vs ORL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 11/26 · back-to-backOUT Wade missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 35 min since (98% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 18 min since (70% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 14 min since (54% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 26 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 24 min since (84% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 15 min since (56% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 21 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Wade missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 4 since 11/25, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 17)
OUT Thompson missed 2 since 11/28, returns tonight: 2 min (23% of 11)
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK LeVert back 11/22 after 2, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 15 min since (58% of 26)
NEW Porter Jr. 13 to 18 min over the last 3
CLE availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Wade missed 6 since 11/22, returns tonight: 14 min (68% of 20)
BACK Mitchell back 11/25 after 4, 34 min since (95% of 36)
BACK Okoro back 11/25 after 9, 19 min since (71% of 26)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 2 min since (23% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT LeVert missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 14 min since (68% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT LeVert missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 19 min since (95% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 6 min since (37% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 8 min since (76% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backOUT Eva. Mobley missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT LeVert missed 4 since 12/02, returns tonight: 23 min (81% of 28)
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 23 min since (110% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 10 min since (58% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 13 min since (123% of 11)
CLE availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Eva. Mobley missed 3 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 12/12 after 4, 23 min since (81% of 28)
BACK Wade back 12/06 after 6, 22 min since (107% of 20)
BACK Merrill back 12/02 after 4, 10 min since (58% of 17)
BACK Thompson back 12/02 after 2, 13 min since (120% of 11)
ORL availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 8 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Anthony 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/29 · 2 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 9 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Anthony 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 13 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 10 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 11/26, returns tonight: 7 min (42% of 16)
NEW Anthony 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Carter Jr. missed 14 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 11 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/01 after 2, 7 min since (42% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 15 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 12 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/01 after 2, 7 min since (42% of 16)
NEW Anthony 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 20 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 16 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 13 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
NEW Anthony 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 22 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 17 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 14 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 3 since 12/02, returns tonight: 13 min (82% of 16)
NEW Black 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 18 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 15 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/01 after 2, 10 min since (62% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 16 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (90% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 15 free throws a game; Mitchell at 23 and Garland at 17 a game. Without Wade (6 straight). 3 days' rest. Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 28 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 26 and Banchero at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Carter Jr. (15 straight), Fultz (12 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 42 percent from three to Cleveland's 31 and the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Cleveland's 15. Call it Cleveland 114, Orlando 113, Orlando keeping it close.
11/26 vs TOR 105-102 — CLE notes
CLE won 105-102. CLE shot 46% (45 of 97) to TOR's 42%, 10 of 31 from three, and got to the line 6 times to TOR's 29. Garland led with 24 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Strus added 20, Allen 18. The hinge was Q3, 32-20: CLE came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 2. CLE trailed 42-52 at the half and won the second half 63-50. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
11/28 vs ATL 128-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 128-105. CLE shot 54% (50 of 93) to ATL's 35%, 13 of 36 from three, and got to the line 17 times to ATL's 24. CLE turned it over 16 times to ATL's 10, and ATL turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 55-44 for them. Mitchell led with 40 (14 of 25, 3 of 11 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Garland added 19, Mobley 17. The hinge was Q4, 26-15: a lead of 12 became 23. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/30 vs POR 95-103 — CLE notes
CLE lost 95-103. CLE took 12 more shots (89 to 77), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to POR's 51%, 7 of 32 from three. CLE turned it over 17 times to POR's 22. Mitchell led with 23 (7 of 20, 1 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Mobley added 20, Garland 15. Q1 was theirs, 25-22, but the other 3 periods went 81-70 against them. They led by as many as 16. LeVert's -17 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 @ DET 110-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 110-101. CLE shot 49% (44 of 89) to DET's 47%, 10 of 30 from three. CLE turned it over 11 times to DET's 16. Strus led with 22 (9 of 16, 4 of 10 from three); Garland added 22, Mitchell 20. The hinge was Q2, 29-18: CLE came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 6. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/06 vs ORL 121-111 — CLE notes
CLE won 121-111. CLE shot 53% (46 of 86) to ORL's 49%, 14 of 34 from three, and got to the line 20 times to ORL's 37. Mitchell led with 35 (12 of 24, 5 of 10 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Garland added 26, Strus 17. The hinge was Q1, 37-20: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Okoro was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/08 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Butler III at 29 and Martin at 18 a game. Without Adebayo (2 straight), Herro (13 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 15 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 21 a game. Without LeVert (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Miami's 124 and the line, where Miami takes 24 free throws a game to Cleveland's 15. Call it Miami 114, Cleveland 113, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/11 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 25 and Banchero at 24 a game. Without Carter Jr. (17 straight), Fultz (14 straight), Isaac (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without LeVert (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Orlando's 117 and the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Cleveland's 19. Call it Orlando 114, Cleveland 111, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/12 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Brown at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 3 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. Without Eva. Mobley (2 straight), LeVert (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Cleveland's 31 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Boston's 112. Call it Boston 115, Cleveland 108.
12/14 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 26 a game. Without Eva. Mobley (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Cleveland's 35 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 107 a night to Boston's 114. Call it Boston 116, Cleveland 109.
11/26 vs CHA 130-117 — ORL notes
ORL won 130-117. ORL shot 54% (47 of 87) to CHA's 53%, 10 of 27 from three, and went to the line 33 times to CHA's 25 — 26 points from the stripe to their 16. F. Wagner led with 30 (11 of 15, 2 of 3 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Anthony added 30, Banchero 23. The hinge was Q2, 36-24: ORL came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 16. Houstan was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
11/29 vs WAS 139-120 — ORL notes
ORL won 139-120. ORL shot 61% (51 of 84) to WAS's 47%, 17 of 27 from three, and got to the line 24 times to WAS's 35. ORL turned it over 18 times to WAS's 10, and WAS turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 44-29 for them. F. Wagner led with 31 (11 of 14, 4 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Anthony added 25, Suggs 22. The hinge was Q4, 37-31: a lead of 13 became 19, and the lead reached 22. Harris was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/01 vs WAS 130-125 — ORL notes
ORL won 130-125. ORL shot 52% (46 of 89) to WAS's 51%, 12 of 31 from three. F. Wagner led with 31 (9 of 17, 1 of 3 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Banchero added 28, M. Wagner 18. The hinge was Q3, 34-28: ORL came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 3. ORL trailed 58-61 at the half and won the second half 72-64. Ingles was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/02 @ BKN 101-129 — ORL notes
ORL lost 101-129. ORL shot 40% (35 of 88) to BKN's 51%, 9 of 29 from three. The glass went 37-57 against them. F. Wagner led with 20 (6 of 16, 2 of 3 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Anthony added 20, Banchero 19. Q3 was theirs, 34-25, the deficit cut from 22 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 104-67 against them. Anthony's -32 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ CLE 111-121 — ORL notes
ORL lost 111-121. ORL shot 49% (41 of 84) to CLE's 53%, 2 of 23 from three, and went to the line 37 times to CLE's 20 — 27 points from the stripe to their 15. Banchero led with 42 (16 of 26, 1 of 5 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Anthony added 19, F. Wagner 14. Q2 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 93-79 against them. Houstan's -13 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 122, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 31 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 25 and Banchero at 24 a game. Without Carter Jr. (16 straight), Fultz (13 straight), Isaac (2 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Cunningham at 22 and Duren at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Knox II (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 31 free throws a game to Detroit's 16. Call it Orlando 120, Detroit 111.
12/11 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 25 and Banchero at 24 a game. Without Carter Jr. (17 straight), Fultz (14 straight), Isaac (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Garland at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without LeVert (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Orlando's 117 and the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Cleveland's 19. Call it Orlando 114, Cleveland 111, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/15 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 28 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Carter Jr. (18 straight), Fultz (15 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Orlando minus-5 and the arc, Boston at 39 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Boston 115, Orlando 113, Orlando keeping it close.
12/17 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Brown at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without Carter Jr. (19 straight), Fultz (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 38 percent from three to Orlando's 30 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-2 a night and Orlando minus-3. Call it Boston 117, Orlando 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLEDG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
TT T. Thompson
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
CH C. Houstan
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
GH G. Harris
JI J. Ingles
JS J. Suggs
MW M. Wagner
PB P. Banchero
CLE/ORL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Paolo Banchero's career-high 42 not enough as Magic lose to Cavs, who get 35 from Donovan Mitchell
CLEVELAND -- — Already a No. 1 in his brief NBA career, Paolo Banchero is now a notable No. 2 for Orlando.
Banchero had his best game as a pro, scoring a career-high 42 points on Wednesday night for the Magic in a 121-111 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers , who got 35 points from Donovan Mitchell and 26 from Darius Garland .
The top pick in the 2022 draft, Banchero went 16 of 26 from the field. The 21-year-old became the second youngest player in team history to score 40 points, surpassed by only Shaquille O'Neal, who was 20 when he got 40.
“I felt good coming in, but it’s crazy to have 42 points," said Banchero, whose previous best was 33 last season against Sacramento. "It’s an honor being a part of a very storied organization with a lot of great players like the Orlando Magic .
"A game like this gives you some confidence that you can use to become an even better player.”
It was another major step for Banchero, who is quickly developing into one of the league's bright young stars.
“I loved Paulo’s aggression, his level of confidence, his teammates trusting him," said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. "He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the win.”
While they struggled to stop Banchero, this was one of the Cavs' best all-around performances in weeks.
Although they're 8-3 in their last 11 games, the Cavs have played inconsistently and came in just 4-8 against teams with winning records. They were booed at home last week when they blew a late lead to Portland.
Cleveland needed a solid bounce back with a tough schedule ahead — at Miami on Friday and two games in Boston next week — and got one.
“It was a step in the right direction for us,” said Cavs forward Max Strus , who had 17 points, six assists and five rebounds. “We kind of grew up a little, figured it out and came together as a team.”
The Magic, who fell behind by 23 points in the first half, went just 2 of 23 on 3-pointers, barely extending their streak of making at least one trey to 1,314 games, dating to 2007.
The Magic trailed by 18 in the fourth but kept fighting and used a 12-2 run to get within 106-98. That's when Mitchell again found Niang for a 3-pointer and Garland, who didn't have a turnover in 40 minutes, scored on a layup to hold off Orlando.
When Garland was asked about his mistake-free night, he pretended he didn't hear the reporter point out his stats.
“What did you say?” said Garland, who then broke into laughter.
“I was throwing it to the guys in the black jerseys,” he said. “I was just trying to find open guys, just trying to make the right read and make it easy for my teammates and they made shots.”
The Magic's visit to Cleveland was one of two games added for the teams that didn't advance beyond the group stage of the NBA's In-Season Tournament.
Orlando guard Jalen Suggs left in the second quarter with an injured right ankle.
Suggs, who came up limping in the first quarter, went down awkwardly while playing defense. He was on the floor for several minutes before being assisted off and taken directly to Orlando's locker room.
Mosley said Suggs would undergo further testing on Thursday.