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Cavs get run out of the gym by Magic in preseason finale

The Cleveland Cavaliers closed out their preseason schedule with a dismal 132-116 defeat to the Orlando Magic, exposing significant defensive and offensive shortcomings in a game where the starters played three full quarters. Cleveland struggled to contain Orlando’s offensive players, frequently falling victim to easy drives and backdoor cuts, while their own offense lacked cohesion, with key contributors failing to deliver.

Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 14 points on 7-of-15 shooting, while James Harden managed just 13 points on an inefficient 3-of-12 performance. Evan Mobley also had a tough night, scoring 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting, and the team’s rotation largely failed to establish a consistent rhythm.

Orlando’s starters dominated, with Paolo Banchero scoring 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and Franz Wagner adding 20 points alongside eight assists. The lone bright spot for Cleveland came from Meleek Thomas, who scored 16 points in just five minutes of action, all in the fourth quarter, showcasing his ability to score when given the ball.

Despite the loss, the Cavs have a week to regroup before facing LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers to open the regular season.

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