Mario Hezonja had a strong performance in the Cavaliers’ 132-116 loss to the Magic. The Croatian forward came off the bench and, in 20:59 minutes, scored 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting, 2-for-4 from three-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, while adding 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals without committing a turnover. For Orlando, Paolo Banchero had 24 points and 8 rebounds, while Franz Wagner added 20 points and 8 assists. The Magic dominated the boards 54-38 and avenged their loss to Cleveland in their previous preseason game.
The Toronto Raptors put on an impressive performance, crushing the New York Knicks 148-98. The New Yorkers rested their entire starting five and suffered their fourth consecutive preseason loss. Kawhi Leonard, in his return to Toronto, led the team in scoring with 21 points and 2 steals, while R.J. Barrett added 17. For the Knicks, James Wiseman stood out with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Oklahoma City celebrated its first preseason victory, defeating the Indiana Pacers 114-112 in overtime. Jared McCain was the Thunder’s leading scorer with 20 points and 6 three-pointers, while Jalen Williams had 16 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 15. On the other hand, Tyrese Haliburton put on a strong performance in his return to the Paycom Center, finishing the game with 24 points in just 17 minutes.
The Golden State Warriors overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 101-89. The Lakers were in control as long as their starters were on the court, with Walker Kessler making a strong impression in his debut and Austin Reaves continuing his solid play. The tide turned in the second half, with the Warriors capitalizing on their opponents’ 30 turnovers, scoring 26 points off them.
Finally, the Portland Trail Blazers won 110-98 on the road against the Sacramento Kings, who played without most of their starting rotation. Portland never trailed and even extended their lead to 35 points, with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, among others, on the court. For Sacramento, Keegan Murray scored 10 points, while Precious Achiuwa recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The night’s results:
- Orlando Magic–Cleveland Cavaliers 132–116
- Toronto Raptors vs. New York Knicks 148-98
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers 114-112 (OT)
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors 89-101
- Sacramento Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers 98-110
*Photo source: AP
