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The Gold Sheet

The Gold Sheet

(501) Orlando Magic at (502) Cleveland Cavaliers

Event:
(501) Orlando Magic at (502) Cleveland Cavaliers
Sport/League:
NBA
Date/Time:
April 22, 2024 7PM EDT
Play Rating:
3%
Odds:
-110
Play:
3% – Cleveland Cavaliers -5.5 (-110)
Result:
Win
Analysis

How much of that was Cleveland's defense, and how much of that was Orlando's inability to shoot? That's what bettors and oddsmakers are asking after the Cavaliers' 97-83 home win on Saturday. Cleveland covered the 5.5-point spread in wire-to-wire fashion as Donovan Mitchell led the way with 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combining to haul in 29 of the team’s 54 total rebounds. The Magic shot just 32-percent overall from the field and 21-percent from three-point range. The Magic couldn't even find their shooting touch at the free throw line, missing 11 attempts from the charity stripe. Orlando's shooting should improve, but one thing was obvious after Game 1 that the Magic can't fix: They don't have the size to compete with Allen and Mobley on the interior. Darius Garland scored 14 points and led the Cavs with eight assists. Cleveland turned the ball over 17 times and still won by 14 points, which suggests that the Cavs have room for improvement on their side as well. Cleveland was viewed as one of the best teams in the league during the first few months of the season, but injuries forced the Cavs into a spring dip. Cleveland's Game 1 performance served notice that the Cavs are fully healthy for the first time in a while, and should be treated as such. 

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