The Orlando Magic stunned the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers with a 3-point barrage and strong defensive effort.
D.J. Augustin started the possession with a pick and roll with Nikola Vucevic. He came around the screen to his left and fed the ball to Nikola Vucevic with deep post position. He still had some residual fire from his career night in Brooklyn and drew a double team.
Nikola Vucevic fired the ball out to Terrence Ross in the corner. The defense closed out and he fed it to Jonathan Isaac on the wing. He quickly passed it to D.J. Augustin back out on the wing. The defense scrambling to keep up with the quick passes, D.J. Augustin fired one more time to Evan Fournier in the corner for an open 3-pointer.
And. . . clank.
The Orlando Magic could not hit every 3-pointer they put up in Saturday’s surprising 114-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. But that kind of ball movement was indicative of the kind of play the Magic were committed to throughout.
Orlando hit 17 of 35 3-pointers, including a team-record eight in the first quarter, and had 28 assists on 40 makes. The Magic were playing with the pace and speed they wanted to play, even without Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon available in the lineup.
Orlando put in by far their best effort, even if the team did not have its best offensive effort.
That is more because the Magic played defense at an intense level. The Cavaliers missed plenty of good looks from three early on. But the Orlando Magic were focused and determined on defense to make up for a poor effort in Friday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Cleveland shot just 38.4 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 13 times.
It was a dominant performance for the Magic. Orlando doubled up Cleveland in the first quarter, saw the lead cut down to seven in the third quarter and then went on a game-clinching 31-9 run. It is hard to remember the last time the Magic won a game so thoroughly against a contending team.
Orlando was on the wrong end of many games like this last year. It was a sign of their flaws. For once, the Magic were the ones laying the hammer down and never letting up. A sure sign of growth for this team’s mentality.
Next: Nikola Vucevic shows off expanded 3-point range
The Magic return to action Tuesday when they will get a shot at redemption. Orlando hosts Brooklyn at the Amway Center.