ORLANDO, Fla. — Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson thought about leaving some of his mainstays back in Cleveland. But he didn’t want to risk halting the team’s momentum.
It was the right call.
The surging Cavaliers topped the Orlando Magic, 119-105, on Saturday night inside the Kia Center. Cleveland has won five of its last six games — a recent awakening that has vaulted them up the Eastern Conference standings. Orlando has now lost three straight — its longest losing skid since late October.
“Trust your roster. Trust your bench. I felt like tonight was one of those nights where we had to play everybody,” Atkinson said following the victory. “Definitely fatigued. We just kept rotating guys and our young guys continue to impress.
“We’re playing better, but we still have a lot of games to make up ground.”
Playing the second game of a back-to-back, after arriving in Orlando around 3 a.m., in the midst of a three-in-four-night stretch, with Northeast Ohio bracing for a snowstorm that might impact the return flight, Saturday had the makings of a proverbial trap game.
Instead, it was a continuation of this Cavs’ turnaround, finally looking like the team so many expected at the start of the season when they were pegged as conference co-favorites.
And they are still don’t have three rotational regulars — Darius Garland (right toe sprain), Sam Merrill (sprained right hand) and Max Strus (foot surgery).
After leading by two after a competitive opening quarter that had nine lead changes and eight ties, the Cavs opened the second on a 6-0 spurt, with energetic two-way forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin canning two triples.
But the Magic kept battling, pulling back even four more times, before the Cavs took the lead — for good — at the 5:55 mark of the second quarter.
Eventually, Cleveland extended that edge to nine with star guard and leading scorer Donovan Mitchell on the bench, while also using a lineup that hadn’t played at all before Saturday — a pivotal moment that showcased the team’s rapid growth.
By the end of the first half, it was a seven-point advantage, as it held the offensively challenged Magic, who entered the night ranked 19th at that end of the floor, to just 48 points on 37.5% from the field and 20% from 3-point range.
The Magic only got as close as four in the second half, as the Cavs built their lead to a game-high 18 at one point and then held off Orlando’s fourth-quarter push with surgical execution and brilliant shot-making.
Mitchell, playing in front of MLB ace and good buddy Jacob deGrom, was at the forefront of that.
“At some point the ball was going to go in,” Mitchell said. “Earlier in the season and throughout the season we have been letting the offense, if it’s not successful, dictate our defense. We haven’t done that lately. It’s a consistent effort, consistent force.”
Mitchell, who is hoping to be named an All-Star reserve this coming week, finished with a game-high 36 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, on 15 of 30 shooting and 2 of 8 from 3-point range to go with nine assists and five rebounds in 38 spectacular minutes.
He even played every second in the fourth — a departure from his usual rotation.
“We usually get him out in the fourth quarter but felt like the game was in the balance. That was a good call by the coach,” Atkinson said with a chuckle. “We just had to ride him. He was great at both ends. Made others better. Then, obviously, the shot-making was insane.”
Second-year swingman Jaylon Tyson added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. Evan Mobley had 13 points. Rookie Tyrese Proctor chipped in with 12 off the bench, hitting all four of his shot attempts. Dean Wade (10 points) also reached double figures.
Orlando, which was once again without Franz Wagner, got a team-high 27 from Paolo Banchero. Offseason pickup Desmond Bane added 20 points while fill-in starter Anthony Black finished with 16.
“We’re doing it by committee,” Atkinson said. “We are celebrating our depth. It feels like a collective effort. It’s contagious. I saw some of the old Cavs basketball from last season.”
A few weeks ago, Atkinson said his team was too good not to catch a wave. He could sense it coming soon.
The Cavs are riding it now. Right up the standings.
Up next
The Cavs will return home for a matchup with the Magic on Monday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
