From a statistical perspective, the Orlando Magic came into the playoffs with the lowest-scoring offense among all teams. They stayed true to their reputation, unfortunately.
In their first game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference series, the Magic struggled to make shots, with four players missing every attempt. They managed to convert only 33% of their shots, resulting in a 97-83 loss.
Throughout the season, the Magic ranked last in the NBA in 3-point shooting, and in this game, they made just 8 of 37 attempts from beyond the arc.
Their free throw shooting wasn’t much better, as they went 19 of 30 from the foul line. Despite their solid defensive effort, holding the Cavaliers to 97 points, the Magic struggled to score when it counted.
Coach Jamahl Mosley acknowledged the need for improvement on offense for the next game, emphasizing their reliance on defense.
While lacking playoff experience, the Magic’s biggest challenge was their inability to score. Starting guards Jalen Suggs and Gary Harris had a tough night, shooting a combined 4 of 22 from the field.
Despite a decent shooting performance from All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who scored 9 of 17 from the floor, he had nine turnovers in his playoff debut.
Banchero admitted to feeling anxious and excited, leading to turnovers, but he remains optimistic and focused for the next game.
Despite their poor shooting, the Magic managed to reduce a 20-point deficit to nine in the fourth quarter but couldn’t capitalize on crucial opportunities to turn the game around.
