ORLANDO — The Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up their preseason schedule tonight with a rematch against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. After splitting their first two exhibition games, Cleveland has one final opportunity to evaluate its lineup and build some momentum before the regular season begins.
The Cavaliers defeated Orlando 119-105 Sunday evening at Rocket Arena, bouncing back from a 124-113 loss to Boston in their preseason opener. James Harden made his preseason debut against the Magic, leading all scorers with 24 points after missing the Celtics game with ankle soreness.
Harden's return provided an immediate boost to Cleveland's offense, but he wasn't the only encouraging performer. Evan Mobley contributed 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jaylon Tyson continued his strong preseason with 13 points in just 16 minutes.
The Cavaliers also showed improvement defensively, particularly after struggling to contain Boston in their opening game. Orlando briefly erased an 11-point halftime deficit Sunday before Cleveland regained control and pulled away in the second half.
Tonight provides another opportunity for head coach Kenny Atkinson to evaluate his rotation, experiment with different lineups, and determine which players might earn larger roles when the regular season begins.
Preseason victories won't count toward Cleveland's final record, but finding consistency on both ends of the floor will be important as the Cavaliers prepare for another season with championship aspirations.
Game Information
| Matchup | Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic |
| Date | Tuesday, October 13, 2026 |
| Tipoff | 7 p.m. ET |
| Location | Kia Center, Orlando, Florida |
| Preseason Records | Cleveland 1-1; Orlando 1-1 |
| Television | NBC Sports Network |
| Streaming | Peacock |
Cleveland opens the regular season Thursday, October 22, on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers.
