Ailing Cavaliers barely scrape by to outlast the Magic

Cleveland Cavaliers finally snapped losing streak

An ailing side Cleveland Cavaliers avoids additional insult to injury by outlasting the Orlando Magic at home, 107-101. The win undoubtedly leaves a bittersweet taste for the Cavs, who saw several more key rotation players get hurt in the game.

Already without All-Star center and primary defensive anchor Jarrett Allen (broken finger), Cleveland fans in attendance had to stomach seeing the other two members of the Tower City frontcourt leave the game due to worrying injuries.

Star rookie Evan Mobley left for the locker room immediately after twisting his ankle after accidentally stepping on the foot of the Magic’s own lottery pick Franz Wagner in the second quarter, while Lauri Markkanen knocked knees with Orlando’s Wendell Carter in the third period.

Fortunately, Markkanen was later able to return and contribute to several massive plays late in the game en route to finishing with 20 points in the close win. All-Star guard Darius Garland, who was equally dominant in the clutch, led the Cavaliers in scoring with a game-high 25 points to go with 12 assists.

After an explosive start to the second period which saw their lead balloon to as much as 20, the Cavs found themselves in a neck-and-neck affair through to the final buzzer after struggling mightily on the defensive end following the early exit of their only rim-protector in Mobley.

The Cavs remain in race for guaranteed playoff spot

Kevin Love, who saw a significant bump in minutes against the Magic, answered the call to chip in with 19 huge points, while Isaac Okoro worked both ends and added 11 as the shorthanded Cavaliers desperately clung on to the win.

However, Cleveland remains in seventh place despite moving up to 42-33, guaranteeing the team’s first winning regular-season record since the end of the LeBron James era.

The Toronto Raptors, whom the Cavs still hold a head-to-head advantage over in the event of an eventual tie, did their part to cling on to the sixth place after winning three consecutive games. Also in danger of slipping out of a guaranteed playoff spot are the fifth-placed Chicago Bulls, losers of six of their last 10 assignments.

Another victory in the upcoming matchup at home against the Dallas Mavericks on March 30 would be paramount for the Cleveland Cavaliers if they are to beat out one of those teams for one of the final two playoff spots and avoid having to go through the play-in tournament.