It’s a battle of Eastern Conference teams on the hardwood up on the shores of Lake Erie. The Orlando Magic are on the road as they make the trip up the east coast as they travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night. Orlando comes in off a 115-102 road loss to the Knicks in their previous contest Monday night. Cleveland upended Washington 117-107 in overtime at home in their most recent contest Sunday night. The all-time regular season series between these teams is even at 59 victories apiece though the Magic have won eight of the last 10 meetings. Last season, the Cavaliers took two of three matchups with Orlando winning the most recent tilt 120-115 at home on April 5, 2022.
Orlando remained winless on the season as they were unable to hang for a full 48 minutes on the road against the Knicks Monday night. The Magic enter this game 0-4 and in the basement of the Southeast Division, 2.5 games behind the Hornets, Wizards and Hawks for the top spot. Against New York, Orlando trailed by six after one quarter and by as many as 10 in the first half before closing within seven at intermission. The Magic rallied to lead 73-71 with 7:32 to play in the third quarter before giving up a 16-3 run that put them in an 87-76 hole with 3:24 to play in the quarter. Orlando never got closer than six the rest of the way. The Magic shot 41.9% from the field, including a miserable seven of 35 from beyond the arc and lost the rebounding battle 50-41. Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando with 21 points as one of five players in double figures.
The Magic enter this game 26th in the league in scoring offense as they average 107.3 points per game on the season. Orlando is tied for 14th in the league in rebounding with 45.3 rebounds per contest while they are 30th in assists by dishing 18 dimes a night. The Magic are 19th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 115.5 points per contest. Paolo Banchero paces the Magic as he averages 22.8 points plus 7.5 rebounds a night on the season. Cole Anthony contributes 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds plus four assists a game, Terrence Ross adds 15.3 points a night while Franz Wagner chips in 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 dimes a contest. Wendell Carter Jr. (14.3 points, 10.5 rebounds), Jalen Suggs (12 points) and Bol Bol (10 points, 4.8 rebounds) are solid contributors. Caleb Houstan, Chuma Okeke, Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton and Kevon Harris all have to contribute for the Magic. Orlando is 21st in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 45% from the field on the year. The Magic is 23rd in the league in threes per game as they hit 10.3 triples a night while they are tied for 26th in three-point shooting by hitting 30.8% from beyond the arc.
Gary Harris (knee) and Jonathan Isaac (hamstring) remain out with no timetable for return at this point. Suggs (ankle) was injured October 22 and had a MRI confirm an ankle sprain, taking him out of the equation for the next couple of weeks more than likely. Markelle Fultz (toe) remains likely weeks out from his season debut while Moritz Wagner (ankle) is day-to-day at this point in time so watch for a potential update on his status.
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