Pregame Report from AdventHealth Training Center
ORLANDO – If there’s been one theme throughout the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, it’s that teams are dominating on their home floors.
Through the first 16 games of playoff action, teams are 13-3 when playing on their home court.
While that trend worked against the Orlando Magic in the first two contests of their first round series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, they’re now hoping to flip the script and use that advantage in their favor.
The Magic will attempt to bounce back from an 0-2 first round series deficit when they square off with the Cavaliers on Thursday at 7 pm ET at the Kia Center.
“Take care of home; that’s what Cleveland did and that’s what we have to do coming out tonight,” said Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. “The main message is being able to take care of home court.”
Orlando is hoping that the energy of the Magic faithful helps spark a squad that has struggled to start games. Orlando has given up 30-plus points in both first quarters this series – it’s not done that in any other frame – and is being outscored by an average of 9.5 points in the opening period.
“We’re looking to come out here and throw the first punch,” said Magic guard Jalen Suggs. “We’re looking to get the crowd involved and help carry momentum.”
It would also be extremely beneficial for the Magic if shots start to fall. Orlando is making just 34.3 percent of its shots from the field and 23.6 percent of its shots from deep this postseason, both well below its regular season averages of 47.6 and 35.2 percent, respectively.
“(We’re confident) because we’ve worked on it all year, all summer,” said Magic forward Franz Wagner. “That’s the biggest thing. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way, so you have to stick with it.”
One thing Orlando is hoping to carry over from the first two matchups of this series is its defense. The Magic have held the Cavs under 100 points in both of those meetings. In the regular season, Orlando was 21-2 when holding its opponents under that threshold.
“I thought our defense was good (in Games 1 and 2) and we’re going to continue to (have that),” Wagner explained. “I think that gives us a lot of confidence for these upcoming games.”
KEY STATS: Of the 163 shots Cleveland has taken so far this series, 110 have been heavily contested, per Second Spectrum. That’s 67.5 percent of the Cavs’ shots, five percent higher than Orlando’s regular season average. Cleveland has made just 32.7 percent of those attempts – the second lowest mark in the playoffs. More key stats
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Very excited. This moment is such a blessing. To finally be home. To have a bunch of family and friends coming into town and enjoy this moment with me. To have brothers (my teammates) ready to compete and on the same page, ready to compete and have fun. (We’re) ready to enjoy a home playoff game. For a lot of us, it’ll be the first time. A lot of excitement comes from that. A lot of confidence comes from that. Weirdly enough, a lot of peace. Today, it feels like it’s just back to basketball, back to hooping… I’m excited to see the Kia Center (with) the house rocking.” – Sucks
IN AND OUT: Orlando continues to have a clean bill of health entering Game 3.
For Cleveland, Ty Jerome (right ankle; surgery), Craig Porter Jr. (left ankle; sprain), and Dean Wade (right knee; sprain) are out.
