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Cavaliers Edge Magic in Opening Quarter Showdown at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

The Cleveland Cavaliers, with a 9-6 lead over the Orlando Magic, have set the tone for what promises to be an intense matchup. The Cavaliers' record now stands at 1-0, while the Magic fall behind with a 0-1 start to their season. The first quarter concluded with the home team establishing a narrow margin.


CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 22: Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Cavaliers showcased their agility and precision early on, converting fast break opportunities into a perfect 100 percent scoring rate which contributed seven of their nine points. Their offensive execution was reflected in an effective field goal percentage of 58 and a true shooting percentage of 65. The home team's defense was equally impressive; they held the Magic to just six points while maintaining a defensive rating of 60.0.


On offense, the Cavaliers displayed balanced scoring across different play types but particularly excelled in transition. They made half of their two-point attempts and shot an efficient 50 percent from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they were flawless, sinking both attempts to maintain their lead.


CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 22: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers grabs the rebound during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Magic struggled to find their rhythm offensively but managed to keep themselves within striking distance thanks primarily to scoring six points in paint out of their total six points scored this quarter. Despite shooting only 27 percent from the field and failing to convert any three-point or second-chance opportunities, they did manage three successful two-point shots out of six attempts.


Defensively for Orlando, there were some positive takeaways as well; they recorded one block and one steal while drawing two personal fouls against Cleveland's players. However, with only five total rebounds compared to Cleveland's six and trailing by three in plus-minus rating (-3), there is room for improvement as they look forward towards catching up.


CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 22: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

As both teams prepare for continued competition beyond this opening period at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – where energy levels remain high – fans can anticipate more dynamic plays as each side vies for dominance on court.


Looking ahead after today’s game concludes at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse: The Cleveland Cavaliers will next face off against Orlando Magic again on April 25th at Kia Center located in Orlando FL USA Zip Code:32801 Fans eager not miss any action can tune into NBA TV where this upcoming contest will be broadcasted live starting at 7:00 PM Eastern Time Zone (ET).

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