Orlando Magic shutting down Donovan Mitchell in second half
The Orlando Magic have done one thing really well in this series. They have taken Donovan Mitchell out of his game in the second half. That could be the key to Game 5.
Donovan Mitchell sat forlornly at the table in the Kia Center's visiting media room. All the pressure was swirling around him as he earnestly answered questions from the media trying to figure out how the Cleveland Cavaliers went from looking like the big dogs in the series to whimpering back home in a 2-2 tie.
Everything has changed in this series so quickly. And all the pressure and all the questions about this Cavs team fall on Donovan Mitchell.
He was the star that was meant to elevate the Cavaliers from a plucky young team to a playoff contender. After last year's playoff failure against the New York Knicks in his first year in Cleveland, this season was going to come down to whether this team could advance and perform in the Playoffs. This series against an unproven Magic team is a referendum on the expense the Cavs spent on Mitchell.
Despite his clear impact on every game. His silence in the second half when the Cavs' games have been in the balance has spoken loudly. The Magic have found a way to quiet Cleveland's star player.