Of the eight first-round NBA playoff series, the matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic may have drawn the least interest through three games. However, it might be time to starting paying attention.

The Cavaliers scored only 29 points in the second half amid a terrible shooting performance in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. With the 112–89 loss, the Magic have tied the series at 2-2.

Cleveland led 60–51 at halftime, but scored only 10 points in the third quarter. Orlando countered with 37 points to take control of the game and go into the fourth with an 88–70 lead. The Cavs' frustration began to show midway through the quarter when Darius Garland balked at Jalen Suggs' tight defense on him.

After winning the first two games of the series in Cleveland, advancing to the second round looked inevitable. However, the Cavs lost the two games in Orlando by a combined 61 points and the matchup now looks far more competitive.

Cavs had no shooting touch

The Cavs were particularly bad from 3-point range, shooting only 24 percent (4-for-17) from behind the arc. That was the same percentage Cleveland shot on 3-pointers in Game 3 (though Sam Merrill made three of his four attempts). Outside shooting has been an issue through the series thus far.

Max Strus

SF - CLE - #1

4/27/2024 v. ORL

7

Pts

1

Reb

3

Ast

0

Blk

29:42

Min

During the offseason, Cleveland added Max Strus (career 37 percent 3-point shooter) and Georges Niang (40 percent) with the intention of improving their outside shooting. But neither player made a positive impact that way Saturday. Strus shot 1-for-3, scoring just seven points, while Niang went 0-for-1 and scored two points.

Jarrett Allen led Cleveland with 21 points and Donovan Mitchell added 18 on 5-for-14 shooting from the field. Caris LeVert, who averaged 14 points per game during the regular season, scored only five (and shot 0-for-3 from three).

Franz Wagner was unstoppable

On the other side, Franz Wagner had his best game of the series for Orlando. The third-year forward scored 34 points with 13 rebounds, shooting 13-for-17 from the field (and going 2-for-3 on 3-pointers). Wagner hadn't scored more than 18 points in the series' previous three games.

Jonathan Isaac added 14 points for Orlando and provided the 3-point shooting Cleveland would have loved, knocking down four of his six long-range attempts.

As a team, the Magic shot 46 percent (12-for-26) on their 3-pointers and 56 percent overall (43-for-77) from the field.

Game 5 of the Magic-Cavs series goes back to Cleveland on Tuesday. Tip-off and the TV broadcaster have not yet been announced.