CLEVELAND (AP) — Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 6-0 by beating the Orlando Magic 120-109 on Friday night, playing their first game without injuring All-Star Paolo Banchero.

The Cavs are the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland last started 6-0 under LeBron James in 2016. The club’s best start was 8-0 in 1976.

The first meeting between Orlando and Cleveland was a rematch of last season’s tense opening-round playoff series, which the Cavs won in seven games.

Banchero is expected to be sidelined for at least a month, perhaps longer, due to his right oblique injury. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft was on an early tear, averaging 29 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists before getting injured Wednesday.

Orlando’s Jalen Suggs reached career highs with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Franz Wagner had 17 points.

Cleveland rookie Luke Travers made his NBA debut. The Australian scored four points in garbage time.

takeaway

Magic: Life without Banchero won’t be easy, but it could lead to Suggs further improving his offensive game and others stepping up as well.

Cavaliers: They adopted first-year coach Kenny Atkinson’s offensive system by playing faster and making more three-pointers.

key moment

The Magic couldn’t hang around and were still within 10 points late in the third quarter; Cavs’ reserves Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill and Georges Niang hit 3-pointers in the final 2:17 to give Cleveland a 17-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Key statistics

Cleveland improved to 30-7 in Mitchell’s last 37 regular season games since January.

next

The Magic will continue their journey in Dallas on Sunday. The Cavs will play in Milwaukee on Saturday before hosting the Bucks on Monday.

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