Donovan Mitchell scored 27 of his 36 points in the second half as the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away for a 119-105 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night at Kia Center.
The All-Star guard finished 15-of-30 from the field and added nine assists and two steals as the visitors controlled the final 18 minutes despite playing without Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter.
Cleveland improved to 26-20 and won for the fifth time in six games, moving closer to the top four in the Eastern Conference standings.
Mitchell repeatedly attacked the paint in the third quarter, scoring on four layups and a short bank shot to help the Cavaliers build separation after halftime.
The game swung early in the fourth when the road team opened with three consecutive 3-pointers from Lonzo Ball, Evan Mobley, and Tyrese Proctor over the first 3:30, pushing the lead to 97-79.
That margin marked Cleveland’s largest advantage of the night and forced Orlando into a catch-up mode it could not escape.
Jaylon Tyson provided secondary scoring with 17 points, while Mobley contributed 13 points and seven rebounds while anchoring the interior defense.
Ball added a steady presence off the bench, and the Cavaliers shot 53 percent overall while hitting 15-of-34 from beyond the arc.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 27 points and kept his team within striking distance by knocking down three 3-pointers in the final period.
However, Orlando could get no closer than nine points down the stretch as missed perimeter shots stalled any sustained rally.
Desmond Bane finished with 20 points, and Anthony Black posted 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists for the home side.
Jalen Suggs returned after missing eight games with a bruised right knee and logged 24 minutes, scoring nine points with six assists.
The Magic shot 11-of-40 from 3-point range, a 27.5 percent clip that played a major role in their third straight loss for the first time since October.
Franz Wagner missed a second consecutive game due to a sore ankle, further thinning Orlando’s rotation on the wing.
The Magic fell to 23-20 and remain in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture after another uneven offensive night.
The two teams will meet again Monday night in Cleveland, giving Orlando a quick opportunity to respond and Cleveland a chance to complete a two-game sweep.
