Magic Down 3-2 After Mobley’s Late Game Block
After tying the series at two games apiece, and absolutely crushing the Cleveland Cavaliers at home in both Game Three and Four, the Orlando Magic looked to get a win on the road in Cleveland to give them a 3-2 series advantage. The Cavs had other plans, as they came to play and were in this Game Five to win in front of their home crowd fans. Evan Mobley would secure a late-game block to Franz Wagner’s layup with five seconds remaining, cementing a Cleveland victory. Now the Cavaliers need to win one more game whether that’s Game Six in Orlando, or Game Seven back in Cleveland to move on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Orlando will look to stay alive and push this series to a decisive Game Seven.
Cleveland got off to a hot start as they would lead Orlando by 10 after one-quarter of action. Nonetheless, the Magic bounced back in the second quarter. Orlando would cut the deficit to just one point heading into halftime. The Cavs outscored the Magic 27-23 during the third to take a five-point lead with 12 minutes left to go. With less than four minutes remaining both teams would be tied at 94. A few minutes later, the Cavs held a 102-100 lead with 33 seconds left to go. Donovan Mitchell missed a jump shot. Jonathan Isaac rebounded the ball and gave the ball to Franz Wagner. The young Magic forward dribbled straight towards the basket, but Evan Mobley was quick, and right in front of Wagner the entire time. Wagner went to lay the ball in but was denied at the rim by Mobley. With Max Strus getting the rebound, who then tossed the ball to Donovan Mitchell, the Magic had no choice but to put Mitchell at the line. Cleveland led by four, Paolo Banchero iced a three-pointer but it just wasn’t enough as Orlando fell 104-103.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavs with 28 points on nine for 23 shooting along with six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Darius Garland dropped 23 points in addition to recording five rebounds, and five assists. Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 39 points. Banchero also had eight rebounds, four assists, and five turnovers. Franz Wagner was Orlando’s second-highest scorer with just 14 points in the loss.
