The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 119-105. The Cavs are now 1-1 in the preseason.
James Harden led all scorers with 24 points. This was Harden’s first game of the preseason after missing Cleveland’s previous game with ankle soreness. He looked like he hadn’t missed a step, easing into a rhythym and making his first five shots.
Cleveland traded for Harden in the
middle of last season, giving them minimal time to practice and gel with their new star. A full summer and training camp should allow them to hit the ground running this season. So far, so good. Harden had complete control of the offense and showed that he can still score in bunches even at 37 years old.
Evan Mobley added 14 points and 7 rebounds. He struggled from the floor (3-10 shooting) but made up for it by getting to the free throw line and nailing 8-of-9 attempts.
Jaylon Tyson drilled three three-pointers for 13 points in 16 minutes. The third-year wing is expected to play a key role on Cleveland’s bench this season.
The Cavs weren’t happy with their defensive effort last week when they lost to the Boston Celtics. They wanted to shore up their efforts on the glass and do a better job of containing the perimeter tonight. And, they picked the right opponent to set that goal, as Orlando’s lack of offensive firepower made it easier to shrink the floor. The Magic shot just 13-of-36 from downtown and weren’t able to consistently create advantages against a more active Cavs defense at the point of attack.
Mario Hezonja had a nice bounce-back game with 13 points on 5-9 shooting. Hezonja looked a step slow in his previous game but was able to break free in transition and serve as a floor-spacer tonight. He also added 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
The Cavs play their final game of the preseason on Tuesday before beginning the regular season on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22.
