The Orlando Magic fell to an unrelenting wave of shooting from the Cavaliers. The starters went missing, but some of the bench had inspiring performances.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were on championship form from the get go, and this is with them resting two starters from this season and waiting for two more from last season to return from injury.
While the Orlando Magic eventually put in some defensive effort and were able to scrap a lead at one point in the second quarter, they never truly looked like they were in the game. And the Cavaliers did not notice them much more than the boot notices the ant in the second half.
Shabazz Napier and Victor Oladipo were the ones to rouse the Magic in the first half eventually, pressuring the Cavaliers guards and getting results in the forms of turnovers and fast breaks. Taking their lead, other starters Evan Fournier and Tobias Harris had efficient, if uninspiring games.
Off the bench, Napier and oft-forgotten Andrew Nicholson provided some interest at least, with Nicholson scoring 15 in a half and showing off some decent range. Even Channing Frye chipped in with a perfect 3 for 3 in just six minutes.
While these performances individually are good news, the net result was not. The Magic often looked completely lost on defence and simply couldn’t break out on offense. Kevin Love‘s outlet passes alone were enough to tell the story: the Magic were chasing the ball the whole night, and never quite got there.