Pregame Report from AdventHealth Coaching Heart
ORLANDO – All through everything of their 2023-24 marketing campaign, the Orlando Magic have been distinctive on their house flooring.
The Magic completed the common season with the third-best house file within the Jap Convention and have been an ideal 17-0 towards sub-.500 competitors at Kia Heart.
That success has translated to the postseason. Whereas Orlando has but to file a street victory in its first-round playoff sequence with the Cleveland Cavaliers, it is dominated on its house flooring. The Magic have received their two video games in Orlando by a median of 30.5 factors per contest.
The Magic (2-3) will try to increase their best-of-seven sequence with the Cavaliers (3-2) by persevering with to cook dinner on their house flooring when the 2 groups face off for Sport 6 on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
“The followers have been nice; they have been nice all season, not simply within the playoffs,” mentioned Magic guard Cole Anthony. “They’ve turned it as much as one other degree within the playoffs. It’s all the time nice enjoying in entrance of the house crowd. They make it enjoyable for us.”
Orlando got here extraordinarily near pulling off the primary street victory of the sequence, however fell simply quick in Cleveland with a 104-103 Sport 5 defeat. Consequently, the Magic spent their apply session on Thursday detailing their protection and dealing on the move of their offense as they give the impression of being to stave off elimination in Sport 6 and pressure a winner-take-all Sport 7.
“You need to go take it,” mentioned Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. “We talked about that (idea) in our movie session. No recreation has been the identical. Understanding that Sport 6 goes to be totally different than Sport 5. Sport 6 goes to be totally different than Video games 3 and 4 at house. Simply since you’re at house doesn’t imply that you may play the very same manner you probably did then. You need to change just a little little bit of the power (and) the hassle. All of these little issues are going to matter. It’s going to be a distinct kind of recreation, and we’ve got to have the ability to modify to that as we go.”
The Magic hope to proceed to get a lift from their star-studded combo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Over the course of the final three contests, the Magic have obtained a 30-plus-point efficiency from no less than certainly one of their two budding younger franchise cornerstones.
“We have been proper there (in Sport 5),” mentioned Banchero. “(Now), we need to maintain house courtroom. If we need to win and transfer on, we’re going to need to win (in Cleveland). I feel all people is aware of that and all people is happy for that problem. Nevertheless it begins on Friday; we’ve got to win on Friday.”
If tendencies proceed, the Magic’s position gamers ought to have the ability to give Orlando a greater increase in Sport 6. At house, the Magic’s reserves are posting 44.5 factors per outing whereas taking pictures 52.2 p.c from the ground and 40 p.c from deep. On the street, these numbers dip to 23.0 factors per contest, whereas taking pictures 35.4 p.c from the sphere and 22.2 p.c from 3-point vary.
KEY STATS: Since he’s entered the league, Banchero has put up historic numbers. That development has carried over into the postseason. After posting 31 factors in Sport 3 and 39 in Sport 5, Banchero grew to become the third-youngest participant in NBA historical past to file a number of 30-plus-point video games, behind solely Anthony Edwards and LeBron James.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a do-or-die scenario. I feel we’re going to have that sense of urgency as quickly as we step on that courtroom. I feel we’re all enthusiastic about this recreation.” – Anthony
IN AND OUT: Gary Harris (proper hamstring; pressure) went by way of the stroll by way of portion of Thursday’s apply, however stays a game-time choice for Orlando.
For Cleveland, Jarrett Allen (proper rib; contusion) is questionable, whereas Ty Jerome (proper ankle; surgical procedure), Craig Porter Jr. (left ankle; sprain), and Dean Wade (proper knee; sprain) are out.