J.B. Bickerstaff’s squad has been fighting through injuries and early deficits through the first two weeks of the season. But on Monday night, those interrelated issues were too much to overcome.
After clawing their way back into the ballgame, the Cavaliers saw the Magic build a big third quarter lead and pull away down the stretch – handing Cleveland the 103-83 loss in the first of two in Orlando.
Already without the services of Kevin Love, Isaac Okoro, Matthew Dellavedova, Kevin Porter Jr. and Dylan Windler, the Cavs added Darius Garland to that list just before tipoff and lost Dante Exum to a right calf strain in the first minute of the ballgame.