Cavs needed heart-to-heart a week ago, so win vs. Magic big with more tests ahead | Ulrich

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers passed the first test of their grueling December exam week.

With a 121-111 win over the visiting Orlando Magic (14-7) on Wednesday night, the Cavs (12-9) triumphed over one of the NBA's hottest teams and showed they're capable of responding well to a gut check.

They needed this.

It's been a week since the Cavs crumbled in a 103-95 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers (6-14) on Nov. 30 and engaged in a lengthy postgame conversation with coach J.B. Bickerstaff about, in his words, “where we are going and how we are going to get there.”

Then the Cavs barely got back in the win column against the Detroit Pistons (2-19), but they did indeed scratch out an ugly 110-101 victory on Saturday over one of the league's worst teams.

What ensued?

A day off Sunday, followed by practices Monday and Tuesday. It was a rare three-day window without a game, the NBA version of an NFL mini-bye week after an appearance on “Thursday Night Football.” Last season, the Cavs played a game on three-days rest just three times.

During the recent reset period, Bickerstaff reinforced the positive as the Cavs watched good plays in film study they hope to replicate. He harped on the importance of the revamped 2023-24 offense resisting the temptation to resort to isolation ball, especially against defenses that switch on pick-and-roll plays. Ball and body movement were emphasized because the offense had been too stagnant.

The Cavs took a step against the Magic, registering 29 assists on their 46 successful field goals and often forcing defenders to chase them.

But there are four more significant challenges on the horizon, an upcoming gantlet consisting of road games against playoff-caliber opponents. The trial by fire will unfold Friday at the Miami Heat (12-9), Monday at the Magic and Tuesday and Thursday at the Boston Celtics (15-5).

“This is who we are,” Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell said after beating the Magic. “This how we need to play as a group, as a whole, and now it's like, 'Let's do it again.'

“For us to be who we want to be and the team we all know we can be, we've got to continue to put these games together.”

The Cavs are 5-8 against teams that entered Wednesday with records above .500. They have won eight of their past 11 games, but the loss to the Trail Blazers during the same stretch was alarming.

Cavs newcomer Max Strus recently called the team “average.” He has high standards because he played in the NBA Finals last season with the Heat, and everyone knows the Cavs certainly possess above-average talent.

Give the Cavs credit for regrouping together and withstanding runs by the Magic, who had won nine of their previous 10 games. Give Bickerstaff credit for using invaluable downtime to prepare his team for the composure it must continue to demonstrate.

The Cavs led by as many as 23 points and repeatedly countered the Magic en route to a wire-to-wire win.

Turnovers had been killing the Cavs. They had 17 compared with 11 by the Magic, but Cavs point guard Darius Garland played 40 minutes without committing a single turnover. Garland entered the game tied for eighth in the NBA with 64 turnovers and ranked second in the league with 4.3 turnovers per game.

Garland also scored 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field and dished out nine assists. Mitchell had a team-high 35 points on 12-of-24 shooting and added seven rebounds and six assists.

The Cavs shot 14 of 34 (41.2%) from 3-point range compared with just 2 of 23 (8.7%) by the Magic. The disparity helped the Cavs overcome shooting 17 fewer foul shots (20 compared with 37) than the Magic. Outrebounding Orlando 45-36 was another factor.

Areas of progress need to translate to trends for the Cavs to reach their potential.

Coming off a 4-1 first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks in April, Cleveland will ultimately be judged by postseason success or lack thereof. Advancing past Round 1 will be crucial to the job security of Bickerstaff and the unresolved contractual decisions of Mitchell.

But first, the Cavs need to reach the playoffs again. They need to find rhythm with a new offense and key roster additions Strus and forward Georges Niang. They need to continue to buy into the defensive identity fostered by Bickerstaff.

The Cavs were hit hard by injuries out of the gate and have used eight different starting lineups this season.

How the Cavs defeated the red-hot Magic: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland lead Cleveland over Orlando

The starting lineup they had in mind since the summer — Mitchell, Strus, Garland, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen — has been deployed just 11 times due to injuries interfering. That lineup appeared against the Magic, and the Cavs' 37-20 lead at the end of the first quarter was their largest opening-quarter advantage this season.

On the other hand, the Cavs are 6-5 in those 11 games in which they have deployed their “Plan A” starting lineup. It's a reminder these guys are still learning how to play with each other and in this offense.

Looking back at Cavs' heart-to-heart: 'I think we all felt it': Cleveland knew its 'bad' loss to Portland needed to be a wake-up call

Hiccups can be expected a quarter of the way through the regular season.

How they were addressed Wednesday ought to be encouraging for the Cavs.

How they'll be handled in the next four games will be telling.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs needed win vs. Magic after invaluable chance to regroup