Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game 6 Preview
That success has translated to the postseason. While Orlando has yet to record a road victory in its first-round playoff series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, it's dominated on its home floor. The Magic have won their two games in Orlando by an average of 30.5 points per contest.
The Magic (2-3) will attempt to extend their best-of-seven series with the Cavaliers (3-2) by continuing to cook on their home floor when the two teams face off for Game 6 on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
“The fans have been great; they've been great all season, not just in the playoffs,” said Magic guard Cole Anthony. “They’ve turned it up to another level in the playoffs. It’s always great playing in front of the home crowd. They make it fun for us.”
Orlando came extremely close to pulling off the first road victory of the series, but fell just short in Cleveland with a 104-103 Game 5 defeat. As a result, the Magic spent their practice session on Thursday detailing their defense and working on the flow of their offense as they look to stave off elimination in Game 6 and force a winner-take-all Game 7.
“You have to go take it,” said Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. “We talked about that (concept) in our film session. No game has been the same. Understanding that Game 6 is going to be different than Game 5. Game 6 is going to be different than Games 3 and 4 at home. Just because you’re at home does not mean that you can play the exact same way you did then. You have to change a little bit of the energy (and) the effort. All of those little things are going to matter. It’s going to be a different type of game, and we have to be able to adjust to that as we go.”
The Magic hope to continue to get a boost from their star-studded combo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Over the course of the last three contests, the Magic have received a 30-plus-point performance from at least one of their two budding young franchise cornerstones.
“We were right there (in Game 5),” said Banchero. “(Now), we want to take care of home court. If we want to win and move on, we’re going to have to win (in Cleveland). I think everybody knows that and everybody is excited for that challenge. But it starts on Friday; we have to win on Friday.”
If trends continue, the Magic’s role players should be able to give Orlando a better boost in Game 6. At home, the Magic’s reserves are posting 44.5 points per outing while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor and 40 percent from deep. On the road, those numbers dip to 23.0 points per contest, while shooting 35.4 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from 3-point range.
KEY STATS: Since he’s entered the league, Banchero has put up historic numbers. That trend has carried over into the postseason. After posting 31 points in Game 3 and 39 in Game 5, Banchero became the third-youngest player in NBA history to record multiple 30-plus-point games, behind only Anthony Edwards and LeBron James.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a do-or-die situation. I think we’re going to have that sense of urgency as soon as we step on that court. I think we’re all excited about this game.” – Anthony
IN AND OUT: Gary Harris (right hamstring; strain) went through the walk through portion of Thursday’s practice, but remains a game-time decision for Orlando.
For Cleveland, Jarrett Allen (right rib; contusion) is questionable, while Ty Jerome (right ankle; surgery), Craig Porter Jr. (left ankle; sprain), and Dean Wade (right knee; sprain) are out.
