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Magic crumble in 2nd half of Game 7 against Cavs as season ends

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on

Published in Basketball

CLEVELAND — Paolo Banchero became the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 30-plus points in three or more games of the same playoff series but his tremendous efforts weren’t enough against the Cavaliers in Orlando‘s first trip back to the postseason in four years.

Banchero, who totaled 38 points during Sunday’s Game 7, was one of just 3 players on Jamahl Mosley’s squad to finish in double figures as Cleveland advanced past Orlando 106-94 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

The Magic led by as many as 18 points in the first half but crumbled after the break as Cleveland’s offense found its footing in third quarter behind the prolific scoring of All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell, who led all scorers with 39.

Cleveland won all four of its games in the best-of-seven series at home.

With the 12-point loss in Game 7, Orlando’s otherwise successful season comes to an end.

The Magic won at least 47 games for the first time since 2011 and was only a contest away from winning its first playoff series since 2010.

 

But what hurt Orlando all season long — reliable 3-point shooting — limited their offense again Sunday. The Magic shot 32.3% (10 of 31) from beyond the arc in a must-win game.

Wendell Carter Jr. totaled 13 points while Jalen Suggs added 10. That was it for double-figure scorers for Orlando.

Plagued by slow starts throughout the series, especially on the road, it was a surge of early scoring that boosted the Magic ahead of the Cavs in the opening half but Orlando failed to keep it up after that.

Three straight triples from Banchero and Carter began what eventually became an 11-0 run for Orlando during the first quarter even with the Cavs calling a timeout in the middle of it.

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