Garland scores 25 points and the Cavaliers improve to 6-0 with a 120-109 win over the Banchero-less Magic

CLEVELAND (AP) — Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 22 and the Cleveland Cavaliers improved on Friday night with a 120-109 victory over the Orlando Magic, who were playing their first game without injured All-Star Paolo Banchero. to 6:0.

The Cavs are the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference. The last time Cleveland started 6-0 was in 2016 with LeBron James. The club's best start was 8-0 in 1976.

The early meeting between Orlando and Cleveland was a rematch of last season's thrilling playoff opening round, which the Cavs won in seven games.

Banchero is expected to be out for at least a month – perhaps longer – due to a torn right oblique muscle. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft was on an early upswing, averaging 29 points with 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists before getting injured on Wednesday.

Orlando's Jalen Suggs scored a career-high 28 points and had eight rebounds and seven assists. Franz Wagner had 17 points.

Cleveland rookie Luke Travers made his NBA debut. The Australian scored four points in garbage time.

Takeaways

Magic: Life without Banchero won't be easy, but it could lead to Suggs developing his offensive game and others getting stronger.

Cavaliers: Have settled into first-year coach Kenny Atkinson's offensive system by playing faster and shooting more three-pointers.

Key moment

The Magic held on and were still within 10 late in the third quarter when the Cavs' reserves Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill and Georges Niang scored all three points in the final 2:17, giving Cleveland a lead of 10 points heading into the fourth quarter 17 points scored.

Key statistics

Cleveland improved to 30-7 in Mitchell's final 37 regular-season games since January.

Next

The Magic continue their journey on Sunday in Dallas. The Cavs play in Milwaukee on Saturday before hosting the Bucks on Monday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba