Game Day 62 sees the Cavaliers host the Magic in Cleveland. This game is all about Draft Lottery odds with both teams struggling in the NBA.
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The tip time is shown on the NBA app and Orlando Magic website as being 12 midnight here in the UK (7pm Eastern for our friends in Orlando).
THE MATCHUP AS THE CAVALIERS HOST THE MAGIC
LAST OUTTINGS
Cleveland played last on Monday night in a defeat on the road to the Toronto Raptors, by 96-112. Five Cleveland players made double figure scoring for a team shorthanded through injury. Isaac Okoro led the Cavaliers in scoring with 20 points. Jarrett Allen was the next highest scorer with 15 points. Darius Garland achieved a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. Cleveland shot only 26.3% with the three ball.
The Magic lost on Monday night in the Amway Center against the Los Angeles Lakers by 114-103. On the second night of a back-to-back Orlando fought hard and fell away during the final minutes. A 12 point first quarter deficit was flipped by the Magic to a 6 point half time lead, as Orlando outscored the Lakers by 22-40 in the period. Six Orlando players had double figure scoring, including all five starters. Chuma Okeke led the team in scoring with 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting, which included 3 made three’s, He also gave Anthony Davis a difficult match-up on the defensive end. Gary Harris had 17 points but only shot a field goal percentage 25%. Cole Anthony produced his 9th double figure scoring game in ten played since his return from injury. Wendell Carter Jr hit 10 points as he battled Andre Drummond and Montrezl Harrell.
RECORDS
The Cavs have won 12 of 28 games at home this season. Orlando have won 9 of 29 games at home. Season records see Orlando at 18-43, whilst Cleveland are 21-40. Across the last 10 games that each team has played the Cavs have a 2-8 record, whilst Orlando are 1-9. Cleveland have a three game losing streak and Orlando have lost their last six.
Results see Cleveland 13th in the Eastern Conference and Orlando now sat bottom at 15th.
The Cavs come into the game as the NBA’s 28th ranked offensive team, scoring on average 104 points per game. Orlando are 29th with an average of 104.3 points per game.
The Cavs have a defensive rating at 23rd and sees them conceding 111 points per game. Orlando are 26th and concede 112.7 points per game.
OUR OPPONENTS – THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Offensively they play at a slow pace. They take 11.9 fast break points per game which is a shade above the Magic. The Cavs don’t get assists that much more than Orlando either at 24 per game. Scoring wise 56.3% of Cleveland’s points per game come from the 2 ball. Only 28.1% of their points per game is from beyond the arc, being a poor 3 point shooting team. Of their 104 points per game 52.6 is from inside the paint. They shoot 45.5% from the field and only 33.8% with the 3 ball. They attempt 21.7 free throws per game, making 16.2. That ratio of made free throws sees an accuracy rate 74.4% accounts for 15.6% of their points.
They rate mid table in blocks (4.8 per game) and eighth for steals (8 per game). They turn the ball over a lot at a rate of 15.4 times per game. On average they foul 18.6 times per game. Orlando by contrast foul only 16.9 times per game, the best record in the NBA. 49.7% of opponent points come in the paint as they do not defend it well. 33.6% of scoring against Cleveland is from deep.
THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS SQUAD
Last time out Coach JB Bickerstaff used a starting line-up of Cedi Osman (9.6 PPG), Darius Garland (17.7 PPG), Isaac Okoro (8.4 PPG), Jarrett Allen (13.2 PPG) and Kevin Love (11.7 PPG).
From the bench came Dean Wade (5.1 PPG), Damyean Dotson (6.6 PPG), Broderick Thomas (2.9 PPG) and Mfiondu Kabengele (1.3 PPG).
As I write according to ESPN the Cavaliers have an extensive injury list. Colin Sexton (24.5 PPG), Isaiah Hartenstein (5.1 PPG) and Lamar Stevens (4.1 PPG) are all out with concussion. Taurean Prince (9.5 PPG) is out following knee surgery. Larry Nance Jr (9.3 PPG) is out with a thumb fracture. Matthew Dellavedova (2.8 PPG) is out with a neck injury. Dylan Windler (5.2 PPG) is out following knee surgery.
THE HEAD-TO-HEAD – THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
In 114 regular season games played the score stands at 57-57. Orlando are on a 6 game winning streak.
The first meeting this season saw Cleveland lose in the Amway 83-103 on Game Day 7. This remains both our largest margin of victory and the least points conceded this season. Game Day 8 was another win for the Magic by 94-105 in Orlando but was the night that changed our season as Markelle Fultz tore his ACL.
Orlando saw success by sweeping the series 3-0 last season.
These two teams have famously met once in the playoffs, in 2009, resulting in a 4-2 win for Orlando.
THE MAGIC INJURY REPORT AS THE CAVALIERS HOST THE MAGIC
As I write the injury report on ESPN reads:
New signing Moritz Wagner (5.6 PPG) is listed as day-to-day having just arrived with the team.
Terrence Ross (15.6 PPG) is listed as out with back spasms.
Devin Cannady (4.3 PPG) is out after undergoing surgery for an open dislocated and severely sprained right ankle.
Otto Porter Jr (9.7 PPG) is out with a foot injury.
Michael Carter-Williams (8.8 PPG) is out and will miss multiple games with an ankle injury.
Markelle Fultz (12.9 PPG) is out indefinitely recovering from knee surgery for a torn ACL.
Jonathan Isaac is out indefinitely recovering from knee surgery for a torn ACL.
Finally Coach Clifford will miss multiple games after having tested positive for COVID-19.
THE MAGIC LINE-UP AS THE CAVALIERS HOST THE MAGIC
The Magic starting unit against the Lakers was Cole Anthony (11.8 PPG), Chuma Okeke (7.5 PPG), Dwayne Bacon (10.6 PPG), Gary Harris (10.3 PPG) and Wendell Carter Jr (11.8 PPG).
From the bench came RJ Hampton (5.1 PPG), Mo Bamba (7.2 PPG) Chasson Randle (5.7 PPG) and Robert Franks (6.1PPG).
Donte Hall (4.2 PPG) was available but did not play.
James Ennis III (8.6 PPG) is no longer on the Magic injury report so could return.
Robert Franks has now been waived by the team.
RECORD FOR LEAST AND LARGEST ON THE SEASON
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY – 20 – GAME DAY 7 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT – 46 – GAME DAY 49 UTAH JAZZ
HIGHEST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON – 130 – GAME DAY 2 WASHINGTON WIZARDS
LEAST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON – 77 – GAME DAY 38 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
MOST POINTS CONCEDED THIS SEASON – 137 – GAME DAY 49 UTAH JAZZ
LEAST POINTS CONCEDED THIS SEASON – 83 – GAME DAY 7 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
KEYS TO THE GAME AS THE CAVALIERS HOST THE MAGIC
As the Cavaliers host the Magic there is so much disruption to both teams that little of season records and statistics give a solid indication of what to expect.
However in this bargain basement battle both teams have some very similar issues. Both are low scoring teams. Neither shoot the three ball well.
So for Orlando finding some efficient shooting is a must. Hitting three’s could see the six game losing streak broken. Opportunities are also present for Orlando to score in the paint against a team who fail to defend it well. Equally the Magic must defend their own paint well against the Cavs who target this for their points.
If Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr and Chuma Okeke can get a grip on the game then the Magic have a great opportunity to win.
KEY DATES IN THE NBA
Orlando is in a very tight fight for the best lottery position. The Magic now have the 2nd worst record in the NBA. This means Orlando have a 14% chance of landing the number 1 draft pick when the lottery comes. It also means that their pick can be no lower than 6th. A win tonight would move Orlando back above Minnesota.
The dates to look for as the season moves on are:
The regular season ends May 16th.
The Play-In tournament is May 18th and 21st.
From May 22nd to July 22nd the NBA Playoffs are scheduled to run.
The date for the Draft Lottery as June 22nd.
The 2021 NBA Draft is set for July 29th.
August 2nd sees teams able to negotiate with free agents and from the 6th signing.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has indicated the 2021-22 season is hoped to start back at its more normal time of late October.
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
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In the latest episode we are joined by Senior Director of Communications for the Orlando Magic, George Galante. As always we review last weeks games and preview the upcoming week and Magic news, and George shares with us his stories about the Dante and Galante Shows, what life is like on the road during the 2020/21 season and what it was like in the final days before the NBA suspended the 2019/20 season last March.
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