1 stud, 1 dud from disaster-averting win over Magic

For the first half of the season, it was the team in Cleveland having the “magical” season, as the Cavaliers went from lottery afterthought to conference contender. Then it became some sort of dark magic seeping through the team, infecting every key player with some sort of injury.

Monday night the Orlando Magic inadvertently brought more of that dark magic to town, as rookie phenom Evan Mobley hurt his ankle in the second quarter of their game. Already down Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade and of course Collin Sexton, the Cavs came very close to losing the most winnable game on their schedule.

The Magic, who came into the game tied for the worst record in the league, very nearly dealt the Cavaliers a horrifying loss. Late in the fourth quarter the Magic hit a shot to go up 92-90. Then the Cavs responded with a 12-0 run to pull in front for good and salvage the night. They ultimately won 107-101 to secure the team’s first winning season since LeBron James left; they are 42-33 with seven games to go.

The Cavs lost Evan Mobley and nearly the game against the Magic but pulled out the win in the end. Who stood out as a stud and dud from the close game?

A win for the Cavs keeps them alive for sixth-place in the conference (and thus avoiding the play-in game) and maintains their cushion above Brooklyn and Charlotte below them. A loss would have been devestating, as multiple tough games await them down the stretch, games they may need to face without either of their talented big men.

Focusing in on Monday’s needed win, who was it who carried this team to victory, and who struggled to give the Magic a chance to steal the win? Let’s hit on one stud and one dud from Monday’s disaster-averting win.