ORLANDO, Fla. — When the Orlando Magic missed their first eight area aim makes an attempt in Recreation 3 of their first-round sequence towards the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, they saved the mindset they’ve had all sequence lengthy: Simply hold taking pictures.
It is not what they needed to see — a continuation of their poor taking pictures efficiency within the first two video games. However then, one thing modified.
About 4 minutes in, Franz Wagner hit a 24-foot 3-pointer. On the subsequent journey down, Jalen Suggs hit a 27-foot 3. Then Paolo Banchero hit a 7-foot soar shot. Wagner hit an 11-foot one. Banchero knocked down a 26-foot 3. All of this occurred inside two minutes, they usually saved that sort of taking pictures up for the remainder of the evening.
“As soon as one goes down the floodgates open,” Banchero stated.
Not solely did they play their finest, most full recreation of the sequence, however Orlando put collectively one in every of their finest offensive playoff video games in franchise historical past, main them to a 121-83 win — their first playoff win at house in virtually 13 years.
The Magic led by 16 at halftime, their largest halftime lead in a playoff recreation since 2011. By the fourth quarter, they have been up 54 factors, their largest lead getting into the fourth within the postseason in franchise historical past. Their 36-point win is their third-largest playoff win and the Cavs’ largest loss.
“Give credit score to us being house and backed by the followers,” Banchero stated. “Beginning your first two playoff video games on the street in that surroundings was powerful for everyone … Being house simply calms you down.”
Banchero completed with 31 factors and 14 rebounds, changing into the youngest participant to document a 30-point, 10-rebound playoff recreation since LeBron James in 2006. After committing 15 turnovers in Video games 1 and a pair of, he did not flip the ball over as soon as in Recreation 3.
He entered Thursday’s recreation extra aggressively, looking his shot from the soar.
“I simply knew I used to be going to have to remain in assault mode. The distinction in being down 2-1 and 3-0 is ginormous,” Banchero stated. “We knew this recreation was sort of do or die. I did not need to depart any stone unturned.”
He tried 12 photographs within the first quarter, which is probably the most he is ever taken in any quarter of his profession. He missed the primary, however simply saved taking pictures.
“We felt [him having a good night] from the start of the sport,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley stated. “As quickly as he stepped into his first shot and it did not go in, there was no hesitation to his subsequent one. That is the signal of a younger man who is constant to get higher and persevering with to develop into who he’s changing into. He doesn’t let a make or a miss rattle what he’s doing.”
Banchero wasn’t the one one. Suggs completed with 24 factors on 9-of-11 taking pictures. Wagner added 16 factors and eight assists. Wendell Carter Jr. returned to the beginning lineup after Jonathan Isaac began the primary two video games of the sequence, offering the sort of play the Magic needed on Cavaliers large man Jarrett Allen.
After Allen grabbed 38 rebounds within the first two video games of the sequence, Carter helped restrict him to simply eight in Recreation 3. As a group, Orlando outrebounded Cleveland 51-32.
“We knew that was the killer within the first two video games,” Banchero stated. “We thought we had been taking part in fairly good protection however we had been giving up manner too many rebounds. We actually needed to place an emphasis on neutralizing their bigs, protecting them off the boards and I believe Wendell Carter was an enormous a part of that.”
Moreover bringing Carter again into the beginning group, the Magic did not pinpoint any main adjustment of their recreation that allowed them to get occurring offense.
Following every of their losses in Cleveland, the Magic stayed adamant that they preferred the best way they have been taking part in and preferred the photographs they have been getting — they only did not have something to indicate for it.
They honestly believed they only wanted to return house, and the whole lot would change.
“There was a degree of confidence all of them possess realizing what was at stake and realizing what they wanted to do, how they wanted to combat,” Mosley stated. ” When photographs weren’t falling, it may have been the identical story. However there’s a confidence on this group.”
