Cavs bounce back in Game 5, beat Orlando Magic thanks to Evan Mobley's clutch block
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers should be clicking the heels of their ruby slippers together and saying, “There's no place like home.”
After being thrashed twice on the road by the Orlando Magic, the Cavs found refuge in their return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Tuesday night and prevailed 104-103 in Game 5.
Starting at center in place of Jarrett Allen, who was out with a rib contusion, Evan Mobley had a clutch blocked shot on Magic forward Franz Wagner's layup attempt with about six seconds left to play. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell then made two foul shots to give the Cavs a four-point lead with 3.2 seconds remaining, and Cleveland held on.
Now the Cavs have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series with Game 6 awaiting Friday night at Kia Center.
Will the Cavs somehow eliminate the Magic from the NBA playoffs away from Northeast Ohio or will the series be decided in Game 7 on Sunday in Cleveland?
The fourth-seeded Cavs held a 2-0 series lead against the fifth-seeded Magic after Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland, but the Magic countered with 38- and 23-point victories in Games 3 and 4 at home.
Donovan Mitchell leads Cavs in Game 5 while Paolo Banchero paces Magic
Mitchell led the Cavs with 28 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and point guard Darius Garland added 23 points for Cleveland in Game 5. Mobley had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Yet, the Magic received an even stronger performance from All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. He finished with a game-high 39 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter.
As Mitchell continued to push through a left knee bone bruise, he was shaken up with 8:50 left in the third quarter after being bumped by Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. Mitchell had 14 points in the first half, but he didn't score in the second half until he made two free throws with 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Cavs entered the final quarter with a 75-70 advantage after small forward Max Strus led them with 11 of his 16 points in the third quarter.
The Magic went on an 8-0 run in the final 2:51 of the second quarter to cut the Cavs' lead to 48-47 at halftime.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen missed Game 5 with a rib injury
The Cavs won Game 5 despite Allen sitting out with an injury suffered when he took an elbow to the ribs during Game 4, coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
Allen arguably had the best series among Cleveland's players through the first four games, averaging 17 points on 67.6% shooting from the field and 13.8 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Amid Allen's absence, the Cavs were outrebounded 43-39 in Game 5. However, they outscored the Magic in the paint 42-30.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs, Evan Mobley win Game 5 of NBA playoffs against Orlando Magic
