Cavaliers at Magic
The Orlando Magic look to make the next step after snapping a six-year playoff drought last season as they return their top six scorers for another run that begins with a visit from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, who topped the team with 20.8 points and 12 rebounds per game in 2018-19, leads the way for Orlando after it lost in the first round of the playoffs to eventual champion Toronto.
“We can have way more fun times ahead of us, but it takes time and work,” Magic guard Terrence Ross, one of four players returning that averaged 15 points or more last season, told OrlandoMagic.com. “I think we could start something special here and go to the playoffs the next few years and we’re looking forward to that, but it’s about figuring out how we can do this consistently.” Orlando has won three straight at home against the Cavaliers, who struggled to 19 victories last season in a rebuilding campaign after LeBron James left for the Los Angeles Lakers. Rookie Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson give Cleveland a potentially solid backcourt and veteran Kevin Love is back up front for first-year coach John Beilein, who comes to the NBA after spending the last 12 seasons at the University of Michigan. “It’s a growing perspective, every day as I go through all these things,” Beilein told the Plain Dealer. “Finding out what the pro players can do, what he can handle at one time. Wherever I’ve gone at each level it jumped, it was like, ‘OK, this is non-negotiable. This will work. This can get done.’ ... So it’s given me a unique perspective.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (2018-19: 19-63): Garland played just five games with Vanderbilt last season before suffering a knee injury that ended his college career and he looks to be ready for the opener after being picked fifth in last June’s draft. Love played just 22 games last season due to injury, averaging 17 points, and should give Cleveland steady play inside and outside while Clarkson (16.8) and 2018 eighth-overall pick Sexton (16.7) are consistent offensive threats. Center Ante Zizic is expected to miss at least four weeks with a foot injury and fellow big man John Henson has been bothered by groin and ankle injuries.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (2018-19: 42-40): Aaron Gordon (16.0 points), Evan Fournier (15.1) and D.J. Augustin (11.7) also return and Orlando added veteran big man Al-Farouq Aminu along with guard Markelle Fultz to a rotation that has potential to compete for another Southeast Division title. Fultz has played just 33 games in two years since being picked first overall in the 2017 draft by Philadelphia, and is looking healthy and confident again after going through shoulder issues most of last season. “I was the No. 1 pick for a reason,” Fultz told reporters. “I knew that I work hard and what I can do on the basketball court. That’s all that matters.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Cavaliers claimed F Alfonzo McKinnie, who averaged 4.7 points with Golden State last season, on free agency waivers Monday.
2. Orlando F Jonathan Isaac, who averaged 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 2018-19, is expected to have a breakout season.
3. Cleveland C Tristan Thompson averaged a double-double for the first time in his career last season (10.9 points, 10.2 rebounds).