The Orlando Magic desperately want an opportunity to get back on the road. The Los Angeles Clippers hope to return home, but not for good.
There are two more elimination games in the NBA playoffs on Friday night, with the Magic hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Clippers visiting the Dallas Mavericks after losing 3-2 in their first-round games.
With Donovan Mitchell scoring 28 points and Evan Mobley blocking Franz Wagner’s layup in the final seconds of Tuesday night’s one-point win, Cleveland is poised to advance to face Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals after winning games 1, 2 and 5 at home.
Pablo Banchero and the Magic won Games 3 and 4 at home by a combined 61 points and are confident they can send the series back to Ohio for a decisive seventh game on Sunday.
“You have to accept it,” said coach Jamahl Mosley, who spoke to his team on Thursday about the challenge ahead.
“No two games were the same. … Game 6 will be different than Games 3 and 4 at home. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you can play exactly the same way you played back then,” Mosley added. “You have to change the energy, the effort a little. All these little things are going to matter.”
The winner of Dallas-Los Angeles will face Oklahoma City in the West semifinals.
The Clippers face elimination after a 30-point loss to the Mavs in Game 5. Los Angeles played without the injured Kawhi Leonard for the third time, and Paul George and James Harden combined for just 22 points on 6-of-25 shooting.
“We weren’t like that on this show and we’re not like that,” George said. “We have to be better, especially in this situation.”
Mavs coach Jason Kidd expects Los Angeles to play better on Friday night.
“We have to find a way to protect the home ground, understanding that in this series both teams have managed to win away from home, so we can’t take anything for granted,” Kidd said.
The Cavs and Magic spent five games trading elbows, trash talk and bad vibes.
Game 6 – or in this case Round 6 – should be no different.
“I’m just getting ready for a fight,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said. “That’s what’s going to happen. It will be a physical game. We expect that, but it’s one of those things where you need to be mentally prepared from the beginning and there’s no way to make it easy.”
The Cavaliers found a way to dig in and win the only close game of the series on Wednesday without center Jarrett Allen, who is dealing with a painful rib injury and may not be ready.
Allen, who did not practice Thursday, has been Cleveland’s best player in these playoffs and in many ways is their most indispensable piece.
Allen’s absence forced Bickerstaff to alter his rotation and dive deeper into his bench, something he was reluctant to do and was widely criticized for not doing.
Mobley was transferred from power to the center. Bickerstaff started Isaac Okoro. He also benched the ineffective Georges Niang, giving most of those minutes to veteran Marcus Morris Sr., who scored 12 points and provided resilience.
By necessity, the Cavs won by committee and with Allen’s status uncertain for Friday, they may have to do it again.
Cleveland leads series 3-2, Game 6, 7 p.m. EDT, ESPN
– NEED TO KNOW: Home has been pleasant, with both teams carrying out serves in their respective noisy arenas. The Cavaliers have lost six consecutive postseason games, losing the last four by an average of 22.5 points. Cleveland has never beaten Orlando in the playoffs, losing all five visits (three in 2009 and two last week).
– KEEP AN EYE ON: Mitchell. He scored 18 in the first half of Game 4 before going scoreless while attempting just four shots in the second half as the Cavs were outscored 37-10 in the third quarter. Mitchell insists a bone bruise in his left knee is not bothering him, but he has been playing slowly, perhaps a sign that he is only pushing himself when absolutely necessary.
– WATCH INJURIES: Allen’s rib injury is making it difficult to breathe or move as needed. Bickerstaff said the big man “will try if he can” but expects the Cavs to be extremely cautious with Allen given the possibility of a Game 7 or another series.
— THE PRESSURE IS ON: The Magic. To extend the series and save the season, one of the youngest teams in the NBA will have its readiness and resolve tested like never before. This is a great position for a team with minimal postseason experience but great potential.
Dallas leads 3-2. Game 6, 9:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN
– NEED TO KNOW: The Mavericks are back where they were three years ago, leading the Clippers 3-2 with a chance to close out a first-round series at home after winning Game 5 in Los Angeles. Dallas lost Game 6 and the series in 2021. Luka Doncic didn’t have Kyrie Irving at the time, so this might show what a difference a player with an NBA championship under his belt can make. Leonard has missed three of five games with right knee inflammation, and there is no indication the Clippers plan for his return. The burden will likely fall again on Paul George and James Harden.
— KEEP AN EYE: Doncic has a right knee issue and appears to be battling a respiratory illness. The Slovenian star ignores the latter, but has been blowing his nose during breaks. Two more days could help the ailment, but Doncic figures he will have to continue managing knee pain after tweaking it in Game 3. The NBA scoring champion struggled in the Game 4 loss, but had 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in Dallas’ 123-93 Game 5 victory.
– WATCH INJURIES: Doncic and Leonard’s right knees have been the story of the series. Although Doncic (who is not listed on the Game 6 injury report) appears healthy enough to resolve his issue, the Clippers have not looked optimistic since Leonard returned to the sideline for Game 4 after missing the first game and playing in the second. . and third games. The two-time NBA champion was clearly uncomfortable in Game 3. Team president Lawrence Frank said Leonard will not play until the knee is as it was in Game 2, after Leonard sat for three weeks. Dallas G Tim Hardaway Jr. will miss fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle.
– THE PRESSURE IS ON: George and Harden will have to turn it back on in Dallas after falling at home. They led the Clippers to a 111-106 road victory in Game 4, combining for 66 points – 33 each – and 11 of 15 3-point shots. With a chance to take control of the series, the Clippers were eliminated. George scored 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting and Harden had just seven, making 2-of-12 shots from the field. Without Leonard, LA has little scoring beyond the two healthy stars.
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AP Sports Writers Tom Withers in Cleveland and Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this report.
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