Game Grades: Cavaliers Loss To Magic
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The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the Amway Center to take on the Orlando Magic as winners of their last three games. However, they fell 104-94, snapping their win streak.
There was some good from this game, while also acknowledging the bad. Let's get into some 'Game Grades!'
Offense: D
The offense was pretty ugly on Monday evening.
Cleveland shot 35% (30-85) from the field, 22% (9-41) from deep, and got outscored 56-36 in the paint. J.B. Bickerstaff commented after the game on what players can do when their shot isn't falling. But overall, it was a struggle in Orlando.
Donovan Mitchell shot 33% (6-18), Max Strus shot 11% (1-9), Isaac Okoro shot 0% (0-4), and Georges Niang shot 0% (0-10). All of them struggled while Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert remained out with injuries, while Jarrett Allen sat on the bench in foul trouble.
Dec 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives around Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Their worst stretch as a team came in the third quarter, during which the the Cavaliers made just two field goals from the floor.
The only bright spot in Cleveland's offense was Darius Garland who scored a season-high 36 points while shooting 47% from the floor. This performance is what saved the Cavs from falling further than "D."
Defense: B
As horrid as Cleveland's offense was, their defense wasn't all that bad despite the loss.
Orlando's leading scorer was Paolo Banchero, who finished with 20 points. The Magic as a team shot 46% from the floor and 26% from behind the arc, while the Cavaliers finished with a defensive rating of 107.2.
The difference maker in this game was the third quarter, when Orlando outscored Cleveland 30-15, making it difficult for the Cavs to come back in the fourth.
Overall: C
This was a rare game in which almost everyone on the Cavs, outside of DG, struggled to get the ball in the rim. Was it a good performance? No. But we also shouldn't overreact to it, either.
Jarrett Allen fouling out can't be understated, though. Having him in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter could've changed the outcome of this game.
