The Cleveland Cavaliers fell for the fourth time in five games after losing 120–115 to the Orlando Magic. The Cavs simply blew it up against the worst-ranked team in the Eastern Conference, giving it their last chance to compete for a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.
The first season included what used to be one of the formerly most acclaimed defensive teams, making a complete 180-degree turn since losing the opening frontcourt tandem to Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, allowing for the league's worst ranking. After hit a new low. Offense for having so many points.
Building up an early double-digit lead to open the game, Cleveland took his foot off the pedal, allowing the home team to quickly run back and get competitive. The Magic also held a 10-point lead of their own before the Cavs made a final attempt in the final minutes to make an unsuccessful comeback.
Darius Garland topped with 27 points to go with 10 assists, while Laurie Markkanen added 25 markers of his own, but the Cavaliers' overall effort was clearly lacking, leaving the heavy underdogs better in almost every category. allowed to perform.
Play-in Seeding Cavs . becomes the next priority for
Falling 43-37, Cleveland is out of playoff contention and will now have to struggle to find seventh and eighth seeds. A slide to the 9-10 boundary would spell almost certain doom for the inexperienced young team, who need to win two knockout games to advance.
Currently only a game and a half ahead of both the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks, plus 2.5 games clear of the Charlotte Hornets in a final play-in berth, winning one of their last two assignments will be of the utmost importance to the Horsemen.
Welcoming either Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen would certainly give the Cleveland Cavaliers a much-needed boost, especially on the defensive end of the floor as the team looks to arrest this regression. They will host the Brooklyn Nets on April 8 in a game that will almost certainly have an impact on their postseason aspirations.