NBA Playoffs: (5) Orlando Magic @ (4) Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 2

After getting shellacked in a 97-83 affair in Game One of their first round series, the Magic (47-35, 5th in Eastern Conference) had better wake the @#$% up lest this return to the playoffs be a brief one for one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Indeed, few teams improved more so than Orlando this season, with (HC) Jamahl Mosely's troops winning 13 more games than they did a year ago, thanks in large part to the cumulative growth of their young core, particularly (Forwards) Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Together, they combined for 42.3 points per game along with 12.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 2.0 steals this season, and were really the only positive forces in Saturday's defeat. Banchero and Wagner posted 24 and 18 points respectively on a cumulative 16-of-32 shooting (50.0%), while the rest of the team could muster just 41 points on 22.2% shooting. In fact, the Magic's 83 points marked their second-lowest total this season. It will be interesting to see how Orlando manufactures more offense, because they were not overly productive during the regular season, ranking 24th in points (110.5) and 22nd in offensive rating (113.4), while sitting dead-last in three-pointers made at 11.0 per game.

Things to Know: Only 20% of the public favors the Magic tonight. Orlando was statistically the best bet in the NBA ATS, posting a stellar 51-32 record (61.5%), which is good for +14.36 units, most of any team. However, a lot of that came on the strength of an amazing start (15-3 ATS), with Mosely's team cooling off of late, with just 4 covers in their last 13 games. The Magic are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games and 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games in the playoffs. One of the better rebounding teams in the NBA (+2.4), Orlando was manhandled on the glass in Game One (-14), due in large part to shooting 32.6% from the field. The Magic have held opponents below 100 points on 24 occasions this season, though Saturday's affair was just the third time that they lost such a game.

Playmaker to Watch: With Banchero and Wagner performing well in their postseason debuts, the Magic desperately need their Backcourt to help level the playing field against their counterparts. The quartet of Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Cole Anthony, and Markelle Fultz were DREADFUL in Game One, combining for 17 points on 4-of-31 shooting (12.9%) and 1-of-16 from three (6.2%), with Suggs the only one make a single field goal. Simply put, that will NOT get it done in the playoffs, as some balance must arrive if Orlando is to draw even before the series shifts to Central Florida.

Meanwhile, given how poorly they performed in last Spring's humbling playoff loss to the Knicks, the Cavaliers (48-34, 4th in Eastern Conference) got off on the right foot in Saturday's drubbing of the Magic, which saw (HC) J.B. Bickerstaff's troops relinquish their fewest points of the season. With the Frontcourt tandem of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combining for 32 points and 29 rebounds, Cleveland has the size and length to matchup with Orlando in the paint, which is key given the aforementioned shooting struggles of their opponent. However, the difference between these two teams is proving to be that the Cavs have a Backcourt that is capable of burning down the nets on any given night, as (All-Star Guard) Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland torched Orlando for 44 points on 17-of-32 shooting (53.1%). In fact, Mitchell and Garland outscored their counterparts by 29 points in Game One. As the Cavaliers appear to be returning to full strength, given the healthy additions of veteran Swingmen such as Caris LeVert and Max Strus, they should enjoy a serious advantage from the perimeter. We touched upon Orlando's struggles from three earlier, though Cleveland have had no such issues, ranking seventh in makes (13.5) and eighth (36.8) in attempts this season despite netting only 8-of-30 (26.7%) treys in Game One.

Things to Know: 80% of the public favors the Cavaliers tonight, with 74% of the money riding on them as well. It has been a season of streaks for Cleveland, who at one point were the hottest team in the NBA from December 16th to February 10th, posting a stellar 22-4 record SU and 18-8 ATS. Since then, they are just 13-18 SU and 11-21 ATS. The Cavs have covered back-to-back games just once during that stretch. Bickerstaff's outfit has covered 7 of the last 9 games against Orlando. The Over has hit in 7 straight games for the Cavaliers in which they've had at least 1 day of rest. With that said, the Under is 4-0 in Cleveland's last 4 playoff games as a favorite. The Cavs are unbeaten when holding opponents below 100 points (15-0) and are 14-1 ATS in such games. Saturday's victory was the second time that they've done so to Orlando.

Playmaker to Watch: Who else but Mitchell? The 5-time All-Star erupted for 30 points in Game One as he looks to redeem himself after his struggles in last Spring's gentleman's sweep at the hands of the Knicks. Mitchell was shot just 43.3% from the field and 13-of-45 from three (28.9%), with 19 turnovers in the five games. He has been instrumental to Cleveland's success this season; the Cavs are 36-19 (.654) with him in the lineup in comparison to just 12-15 (.444) in the 27 games that he missed due to injury. This postseason figures to be huge for Mitchell, who has been subject to persistent rumors of an offseason exit to his home state of New York, be it the Knicks or Nets, as he has one year left on his contract and is sure to command a hefty deal to remain in Cleveland.

Our Take: Cavaliers 106, Magic 94