Donovan Mitchell could not be stopped, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-98 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
Mitchell scored 45 points, shooting 15-of-25 from the floor (including 5-of-8 on 3-pointers). Monday’s performance was his second consecutive 30-plus point game versus the Magic and his third straight overall. He has scored 40 or more points in five games this season.
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Monday’s matchup was initially a game of big swings with Orlando outscoring Cleveland 32-22 in the first quarter. The Cavs responded with a 39-24 second quarter as Mitchell found his scoring touch with 15 points in the frame.
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Orlando cut Cleveland’s lead to 61-60 in the opening minute of the third quarter with Paolo Banchero scoring two straight baskets. Mitchell answered with a scoring burst of seven points to increase the Cavaliers’ margin. Javion Tyson added nine points during the quarter, helping Cleveland go into the fourth with a 91-81 lead.
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In the fourth, the Magic couldn’t get closer than eight points as Cleveland never went into a scoring drought thanks to Tyrese Proctor and Evan Mobley helping Mitchell generate offense. Mobley tallied 20 points with nine rebounds, while Tyson scored 14 and also grabbed nine boards.
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Cleveland improved to 28-20 and kept hold on the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 2.5-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the standings. Winners of six of their past seven games (and 11 of 15), the Cavaliers will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
Banchero nearly matched Mitchell with 35 points for the Magic with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Desmond Bane added 19 points, while Anthony Black contributed 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. The Magic have lost four in a row and next visit the Miami Heat on Wednesday amid a tight race for the seventh and eighth seeds in the East.
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