CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up their first preseason victory Sunday evening, defeating the Orlando Magic 119-105 at Rocket Arena. James Harden led all scorers with 24 points in his preseason debut, while Evan Mobley added 14 points and seven rebounds as Cleveland improved to 1-1 in exhibition play.
Harden, who missed Thursday's loss to Boston with ankle soreness, wasted little time making his presence felt. The veteran guard scored 13 points in the opening quarter, helping Cleveland build a 32-28 advantage. Mario Hezonja also contributed seven first-half points off the bench as the Cavaliers extended their lead to 61-50 at halftime.
Orlando made things interesting early in the third quarter. The Magic opened the second half with a 14-3 run, erasing Cleveland's 11-point halftime advantage and tying the game at 64 with 6:33 remaining in the period. Tristan da Silva helped lead the comeback, while Cleveland struggled to generate consistent offense during the opening minutes.
The Cavaliers responded behind Harden, Mobley, and Jaylon Tyson. Harden scored four points to help Cleveland regain its footing, while Tyson caught fire from beyond the arc late in the quarter. Tyson connected on two three-pointers during the final 79 seconds, helping the Cavaliers finish the period with a 90-75 advantage.
Cleveland maintained control throughout the fourth quarter, eventually building a 19-point lead before Orlando scored the game's final five points. Thomas Bryant contributed 12 points off the bench, while Hezonja finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
Tyson continued his encouraging preseason, finishing with 13 points in just 16 minutes. Mobley added seven rebounds to his 14 points, while Donovan Mitchell contributed 11 points and six assists.
The Cavaliers also delivered a stronger defensive performance after surrendering 124 points to Boston in their preseason opener. Orlando shot just 13-of-36 from three-point range, while Paolo Banchero struggled offensively, scoring 10 points on 1-of-10 shooting.
Although preseason results carry little significance, Sunday's performance offered several encouraging developments for Cleveland. Harden appeared comfortable directing the offense, Tyson continued making his case for a larger role, and the Cavaliers demonstrated improved defensive execution.
With the regular season approaching, those developments are considerably more valuable than the final score.
What's Next
The Cavaliers travel to Orlando for their preseason finale Tuesday, October 13, at Kia Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
