Magic halt Cavaliers’ win run

CLEVELAND — Paolo Banchero scored 24 points, Franz Wagner added 22, and the Orlando Magic stunned Cleveland 108-103 on Sunday (Monday, March 17, 2025, PH time) to end the Cavaliers’ winning streak at 16 games.

The Cavs lost for the first time since Feb. 4 as the Eastern Conference leaders were unable to put away the Magic in the final minutes. Cleveland missed five shots — three by All-Star Donovan Mitchell — in the final minute.

Banchero’s 16-foot jumper put the Magic ahead 104-103, and after a badly missed 3-pointer by Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made two free throws with 31 seconds left to give Orlando a three-point lead.

Max Strus missed a potential tying 3-pointer on Cleveland’s next possession and Orlando’s defense swarmed Mitchell, who misfired on a pair of 3s.

Banchero shot just 6 of 22 but added 11 rebounds and seven assists. Wendell Carter Jr. added 16 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando.

Mitchell returned after missing two games with a sore groin and finished with 23 points. Jarrett Allen added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who were denied becoming the first team since Phoenix in 2021 to win 17 straight.

Orlando may not resemble the same team that took Cleveland to seven games in last year’s playoffs due to season-ending injuries for Mo Wagner and Jalen Suggs. But the Magic showed plenty of grit in handing the Cavs just their second loss in 22 games.

Cleveland’s late-game execution hasn’t been great and needs to be addressed before the playoffs.

Leading by eight late in the third quarter, the Cavs committed three turnovers in 27 seconds. Given new life, the Magic ripped off 10 straight points.

Hunter lost for the first time in 14 games with Cleveland since coming over in a deadline trade from Atlanta.

Blazers 105, Raptors 102

PORTLAND, Ore. — Anfernee Simons scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Toumani Camara finished with 21, and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-102 to snap a five-game skid.

Portland made 18 3-pointers, with Simons hitting six — four in the fourth quarter — and Camara tied his career high with five.

Deni Avdija finished with 19 points, including two free throws that capped the scoring with 5.1 seconds left, six rebounds, and six assists. Shaedon Sharpe scored 17 for the Trail Blazers.

Jakob Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji scored 19 points apiece for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes finished with 16 points, six rebounds, six assists — including a pass from beyond halfcourt to Agbaji for an alley-oop layup — and six steals.