NBA: Magic after Cavaliers' second consecutive loss to tie the series

ORLANDO, Fla. – When Franz Wagner single-handedly outscored Cleveland in the third quarter, what had been a competitive game turned into yet another rout in this series between the Orlando Magic and Cavaliers.

Wagner had 34 points and 13 rebounds, and the Magic held the Cavaliers scoreless for nearly seven minutes in the second half, cruising to a 112-89 victory on Saturday that evened the NBA Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2.

After scoring 60 points in the first half, Cleveland was outscored 37-10 in the third quarter and managed just 29 points in the second half.

Asked if he had ever seen a more dominant defensive back, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said, “I would have to look that one up.”

Wagner had 10 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter and finished with 12 in the period as the Cavaliers missed 14 of 18 shots.

Masterclass by Franz Wagner in game 4 👇 pic.twitter.com/QiNi779T7q

-Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 27, 2024

“Once we came back from that nine-point deficit starting in the third, and they got that break, I felt good, the momentum is shifting in our direction,” Magic big man Jonathan Isaac said.

Never backed down.

Game 4 of the series is Tuesday night in Cleveland, where the fourth-seeded Cavaliers won the first two by double digits before being eliminated twice in Florida.

READ: NBA: Magic hand Cavaliers worst playoff loss to cut deficit to 2-1

“They played at home just like we did,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said. “Now we have the opportunity to return home and play a best-of-three series with two games in Cleveland. We have areas where we can change some things, fix some things, but I know our guys will be ready to go Tuesday night.”

Isaac (14 points, seven rebounds, two blocks) and Markelle Fultz (12 points, four rebounds) provided big help to the Magic off the bench. Paolo Banchero, who had 35 points in Orlando's 121-83 Game 3 victory on Thursday night, finished with nine points and five assists in his first single-digit scoring game since Nov. 29.

Jarrett Allen had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell had 18 points, all in the first half.

“Ten points (in a quarter) is outrageous,” Donovan said. “We have to be better. I have to be better. I'm disappointed in myself, so it's my fault. You can’t have 18 points in the first half and zero in the second, and only four shots.”

Including games in this series, the Magic have won six in a row at home and lost six in a row on the road.

“We’re not happy at all,” Wagner said. “We just got two wins. We need two more against them, so we have to stay locked in and try to get the next one in Cleveland.”

Wagner opened the second half by converting a Cleveland turnover into a layup and sinking a shot from the free throw line. He added a 3-point play and a three-point play in a five-minute 17-6 run that put Orlando up 68-67.

“Obviously he’s amazing,” said Wagner’s brother Mo, who contributed seven points and four rebounds. “His awareness and control of the game are great. He started the game by distributing the ball and let the game come to him.

“I have to drive home with him, so I want to keep that under control. I don’t want to exaggerate here, but that was one of the best games I’ve seen him play.”

The Magic finished the quarter with 14 straight points, and three straight baskets from Franz Wagner extended the lead to 24 early in the fourth quarter.

Max Strus' 3-pointer with 5:26 left in the third quarter accounted for the Cavs' final points of the period. They didn't score again until Caris LeVert's jumper with 10:40 left in the quarter.

“They protected the national court and we have to do the same thing. It’s that simple,” said Mitchell, whose big first-half finish put the Cavaliers up 60-51.

The game included several minor skirmishes, including a one-on-one confrontation between Jalen Suggs and Darius Garland and a fourth-quarter flagrant foul on Strus for holding Cole Anthony on a dunk attempt.