National Basketball Association
Cleveland 104, Orlando 103
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio
Officials: #21 Dedric Taylor, #25 Tony Brothers, #39 Tyler Ford, #77 Karl Lane
Attendance: 19432

Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner's attempted layup with 5.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, helping the host Cleveland Cavaliers secure a 104-103 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

The Cavaliers have won all three of their home games to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is in Orlando on Friday.

Donovan Mitchell erupted for 28 points for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, while Darius Garland scored 17 of his 23 points in the first quarter. Max Strus had 16 points, and Mobley collected 14 points and 13 rebounds.

"Defensively, (Mobley) was huge," Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "He had a great block. He guarded it seemed like everybody out on the floor, and that's what it came down to. Evan was phenomenal defensively. Containing the ball, challenging shots, forcing misses and helping us rebound."

Marcus Morris Sr. added 12 points off the bench to help a Cleveland team that was without Jarrett Allen, who was ruled out due to a right rib contusion that he sustained in Game 4. Allen has averaged 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds in four games this series.

Orlando's Paolo Banchero recorded 39 points and eight rebounds after being limited to just nine points on 4-of-14 shooting from the floor in Game 4.

Wagner collected 14 points and six assists and Jalen Suggs added 13 points for the fifth-seeded Magic, who have lost seven straight road games dating back to the regular season.

Banchero sank a pull-up jumper to stake Orlando to a 98-97 lead before Mobley answered on the next possession with an emphatic one-handed dunk.

Mitchell added a free throw and Mobley converted a nifty feed from Garland for an easy layup to give Cleveland a 102-98 advantage with 40.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Wagner made a layup to halve the deficit before his attempt at a driving layup was blocked by Mobley. Mitchell made a pair of free throws before Banchero sank a 3-pointer to cap the scoring.

"I was able to get downhill," Wagner said of his late layup attempt. "Not the best decision (on my part), but (Mobley) made a good play."

Suggs made 1 of 2 free throws to give Orlando a 64-63 lead, but Cleveland answered with a 12-6 run to end the third quarter. Strus highlighted that surge by sandwiching 3-pointers around a driving layup.

The Cavaliers were up 48-47 at the break.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Orlando   Cleveland
Paolo Banchero 39 Scoring Donovan Mitchell 28
Franz Wagner 6 Assists Darius Garland 5
Wendell Carter Jr. 11 Rebounds Evan Mobley 13
Paolo Banchero 7 Free Throws Made Donovan Mitchell 9
Jalen Suggs 2 Steals Caris LeVert 2
Wendell Carter Jr. 3 Blocks Evan Mobley 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Orlando 103 46.2 9-31 22-29 17 43 7 5 14
Cleveland 104 43.2 13-37 15-19 23 39 3 9 10
Upcoming Games
  • Cleveland will play their next game on the road against Orlando. The Cavaliers have a W/L % of .542 after a win and .647 after a loss.
  • Orlando will play their next game at home against Cleveland. The Magic have a W/L % of .609 after a win and .528 after a loss.