Even after being eradicated from postseason rivalry, the Orlando Magic nonetheless had one thing to play in Thursday’s 118-94 house loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Magic entered the matchup .500 at house, vying for his or her first profitable file at Amway Center in 4 seasons.
Even with that in thoughts the Magic sat their starters, choosing gamers who haven’t been within the rotation within the defeat, giving Orlando a dropping house file (20-21) for the third consecutive season.
Paolo Banchero (again tightness), Wendell Carter Jr. (left hip soreness), Fultz (left knee soreness), Gary Harris (left inside thigh soreness) and Franz Wagner (sprained left ankle) weren’t accessible. Neither was Jonathan Isaac (season-ending left inside thigh surgical procedure on March 3).
Cole Anthony, the workforce’s main scorer off the bench, was accessible in keeping with coach Jamahl Mosley however didn’t play.
“The decision really is that it gives these other guys an opportunity,” Mosley stated. “Once we were eliminated from that play-in position, you have to look at now what we’ve talked about all year long: How do we help these guys get better? How do we help them grow? How do they get opportunities to play their best basketball at this time of the year?”
The final time Orlando completed a profitable house file was 2019-20. The Magic had an 18-17 house file through the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season, together with 16-15 at Amway Center after going 2-2 in “home” video games within the league’s bubble at Disney World.
Jalen Suggs (22 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists), Caleb Houstan (8 factors), Chuma Okeke (2 factors, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 3 steals), Bol Bol (18 factors, 8 rebounds) and Moe Wagner (9 factors, 4 rebounds) began in opposition to the Cavaliers.
“They’re so deserving of it,” Mosley stated of his reserves. “They’ve worked their tails off all year. They’ve competed with these guys who’ve been in starting lineups. They’ve started at times. It’s an opportunity for them to keep getting better, continue to evaluate and like anybody who puts that uniform on, they’re going to compete.”
The Magic got here out firing offensively. Suggs made his first 5 photographs, together with 4 3-pointers, for 14 factors to provide Orlando a 23-13 lead halfway by the primary and a 42-33 lead on the finish of the quarter.
But the shortage of continuity that comes with enjoying non-rotation gamers confirmed itself within the following two quarters.
The Maic had 22 turnovers for 26 Cleveland factors.
The Cavaliers (51-30), led by Danny Green’s 21 factors and a bench unit that scored 66, outscored the Magic 62-31 mixed within the second and third earlier than cruising to their third consecutive win.
Cleveland, which secured the No. 4 seed within the Eastern Conference for the playoffs with the victory over Orlando on Tuesday, additionally sat most of its rotation.
Jarrett Allen (strained proper groin), Darius Garland (decrease left leg contusion), Caris LeVert (proper knee soreness), Donovan Mitchell (sprained finger on left hand), Evan Mobley (relaxation), Isaac Okoro (sore left knee) and Dylan Windler (sprained left foot) didn’t play.
The Magic (34-46) will play the Brooklyn Nets (44-36) on Friday at Barclays Center earlier than enjoying the season finale in opposition to the Heat in Miami on Sunday.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com