In a nail-biting finish to Game 5, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley delivered a game-saving block against Orlando Magic wing Franz Wagner, securing a crucial 104-103 win and a 3-2 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series.
Mobley’s stellar performance came just in time as the Cavs faced intense pressure to hold their ground at home.
As the game clock wound down, Wagner, navigating past a screen, made a determined drive to the basket. Initially positioned just outside the 3-point line, Mobley adeptly became Wagner’s primary defender.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic Updates
With only five seconds left and Cleveland up by two, Wagner attempted a layup, but Mobley, with a swift motion of his left hand, tipped the ball away, sealing the Cavs’ victory.
“It was a big play,” Mobley said. “The game was on the line. I just went for it. I knew he was going to go for the layup. So, went for it, got a clean block and we got the rebound. So, got us to win. I’m just trying to make game-winning plays and winning plays as much as possible, especially on the stretch. And I feel like I did a good job this game.”
This crucial moment came with the Cavs already short-handed, missing center Jarrett Allen due to a right rib contusion.
Allen’s absence was deeply felt as he had been a pivotal player throughout the series. Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff highlighted the defensive effort needed without Allen.
“It was going to come down to the trenches. It was going to come down to who was going to be able to get a stop in the moment,” Bickerstaff said. “Evan was phenomenal defensively — challenging the ball, containing shots, forcing missed shots and rebounding.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic Updates
The Magic, led by the dynamic Paolo Banchero, who scored 39 points, put up a fierce fight, especially in the final quarter. Banchero’s efforts included a last-second three-pointer that brought Orlando within one point, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Cleveland’s lead.
“I just got lost in the game and really wanted to win because I knew how big it would have been,” Banchero said. “I just wanted to be aggressive, and I think I got a little fatigued at the end.”
On the Cavs’ side, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland spearheaded the offense, with Mitchell scoring 28 points and Garland adding 23. Their combined efforts were crucial, especially with Mitchell emphasizing the need to maintain focus for the upcoming games:
“We got to do it again on the road,” Mitchell stated. “We did our job. This doesn’t prove anything. We haven’t proven anything. We haven’t done anything. We got to go down there and handle business.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic Updates
The series now shifts back to Orlando for Game 6, where the Cavaliers hope to close out the series against a Magic team determined to extend their breakthrough season.
As the Cavs prepare, the unity and determination displayed in Game 5 will be critical. Mitchell highlighted the team’s mentality for the next game:
“Understanding that those shots we hit, those runs we make, there’s no loudness, there’s nothing coming for us [in Orlando]. We got to stick together as a group. And I think going down there and knowing what’s to come, knowing who they are down there as a team, we got to be locked in. We got to stay together. And I have no doubt we will.”
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
