Orlando @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 23, 2019 ) Cleveland 85, Orlando 94

The Orlando Magic snapped a six-year playoff drought last season and have yet to show they are ready to take a step forward entering the finale of a four-game road trip Wednesday night against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic appeared to be warming up with a season-high three-game winning streak before losing the last three on the road, where they are 0-7 on the season.

Orlando coughed up a fourth-quarter lead at Indiana in a five-point defeat on Saturday and led by two at halftime against Detroit on Monday night, but scored just 33 points in the second half to suffer a demoralizing 103-88 setback. Magic coach Steve Clifford said simply that the ball has got to move more on offense and told reporters after the loss to the Pistons: “If we play the right way and lose, it’s one thing, but that’s not what we did. In this league, you pay the price.” The Cavaliers failed in a chance for their second win streak of the season Monday, dropping a 108-106 decision against Brooklyn after an impressive victory over Portland that opened a six-game homestand. Cleveland’s leading scorer and rebounder Kevin Love (back) could miss a third straight game, but his replacement in the starting lineup, Larry Nance Jr., recorded season highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Nets on Monday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (6-10): Orlando is expected to be without All-Star center Nikola Vucevic (17.1 points, 11.6 rebounds) for a few more weeks with an ankle injury while forward Aaron Gordon (13.1 points) missed the last two games with the same ailment and is questionable. Evan Fournier leads the team in scoring (17.7), including 23 per game over his past five outings, and fellow guard Terrence Ross had a team-high 19 points Monday to improve his average to 15.6 over the past five contests. Point guard Markelle Fultz continues to revive his career, averaging 14.6 points over the last five games after scoring 16 on Monday.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (5-12): Guard Jordan Clarkson stepped up with 51 total points in the last two games after being shut out against Dallas last Friday and backcourt mate Collin Sexton scored 18 despite 7-for-22 shooting Monday. Forward Cedi Osman connected on 6-of-8 shots from the field versus Brooklyn to score 15, but has scored in double figures just three times in his last nine contests. Center Tristan Thompson had 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds in the 94-85 loss at Orlando on opening night, but has just one double-double in his last six games while rookie guard Darius Garland scored in double figures in five of the last six games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Orlando F Jonathan Isaac is second in the league entering Tuesday with 2.86 blocks per game after swatting four Monday.

2. Cleveland’s rookie G Kevin Porter Jr. is averaging 5.8 points the last four games after scoring a season-high 18 on Nov. 18.

3. The Magic won four of the last five meetings, but the Cavaliers took the past two matchups at home.

PREDICTION: Magic 108, Cavaliers 102