It might just have been a preseason game between the Magic and Cavaliers, but the two Eastern Conference foes played with plenty of intensity and energy inside Rocket Arena on Sunday night.
Powered by James Harden’s 24 points and five other players scoring in double figures, Cleveland outmaneuvered Orlando en route to a 119-105 victory in front of a national TV audience on ESPN.
The Magic weren’t as successful from 3-point range as they were in their preseason opener Wednesday at Memphis; they made just 13 long-range shots against the Cavaliers versus 20 against the Grizzlies.
Coach Sean Sweeney‘s squad trailed much of the night, including by as many as 18 points, but tied the game at 66 midway through the third quarter. Cleveland, however, outscored the Magic 53-39 from there the rest of the night.
“Just in general, defensively, they did a good job with their physicality trying to blow some things up,” Sweeney said of the Cavaliers. “So, that was something that was a little bit different for us in terms of being ready for that.”
“And then offensively, they got to the free throw line quite a bit,” Sweeney added. “So, defending without fouling was something we’ve got to clean up a little bit. And we will.”
The Magic were also without Desmond Bane (rest), Jalen Suggs (illness), Anthony Black (right ankle sprain), Jonathan Isaac (personal reasons) and Izaiyah Nelson (left ankle rehab) against Cleveland.
The Magic and Cavaliers will meet again Tuesday when Orlando hosts Cleveland at the Kia Center (7 p.m., Peacock/NBCSN).
Starting 5
For the second preseason game in a row, Sweeney turned to second-year guard Jase Richardson to start in place of Suggs.
In addition, third-year player Tristan da Silva filled in for Bane. He and Richardson opened the game alongside regulars Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.
Banchero missed his first eight shots from the floor before he knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing late in the second quarter. Although he wasn’t hitting his shots early, the Magic forward got to the free-throw line early and converted seven of his 10 attempts.
In 18 minutes of first-half action, Banchero notched 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
Meanwhile, it was da Silva who let it fly from beyond the arc. He shot and made half of the team’s first-half 3-pointers in the first half. Orlando shot 6 for 20 from distance before the break. Finishing with four 3-pointers, da Silva totaled 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 24 minutes.
Richardson scored nine of his 12 points in the third quarter by showing off his speed with quick bursts to the basket. He added three rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes.
“I thought he did a really nice job being aggressive, especially in that second half,” Sweeney said about Richardson. “(He) went on a nice run there and he was a catalyst in terms of his energy, his pace attacking, and then I thought his communication and his effort level defensively (were) really high.”
Wagner’s way
Wagner continued to initiate Orlando’s offense while on the court and he scored six of the team’s first nine points.
Scoring all 10 of his points in the opening quarter, Wagner shot 4 for 7 from the floor and sank an early 3-pointer from the left corner. The German forward added five rebounds and three assists but turned the ball over four times.
He and Banchero only played in the first half for the second preseason game in a row.
Tristan da Silva led the Magic with 17 points Sunday against the Cavaliers in a 119-105 preseason loss in Cleveland. Da Silva got a start in place of Desmond Bane, who was given the night off. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Bane’s rest
It was a scheduled night off for Bane, Sweeney said before the game.
“He’s doing great,” the Magic coach said about Bane, who added that the coaching staff wanted to give him the night off.
Penda’s preseason debut
After missing last Wednesday’s preseason opener because of a right hamstring strain, second-year forward Noah Penda returned to action Sunday.
Penda got on the board early with a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter and later slammed down a running dunk in transition in the fourth frame.
The French forward finished with eight points, five rebounds and five assists in 22 minutes.
Old (but familiar) face
Beyond Harden and Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers got a boost from Mario Hezonja, a one-time lottery pick for the Magic.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Hezonja has returned to the NBA with Cleveland after spending the last six years playing professionally in Europe.
Hezonja made plays on both ends of the court while contributing 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 17 minutes.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com