James Harden scored 24 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Orlando Magic 119-105. The matchup on the night of October 11-12 served as part of an ongoing slate of exhibition games designed to sharpen rotations ahead of the regular season.
Cleveland Defeats Orlando Behind Harden
The Cavaliers controlled the tempo against Orlando by tightening their defensive schemes and limiting open perimeter looks. Harden orchestrated the offense with 24 points, while frontcourt partner Evan Mobley chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds. Jaylon Tyson added 13 points off the bench for Cleveland, which built a 14-point final margin.
For the Magic, Mario Hezonja led the scoring effort with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Despite spurts of offensive activity, Orlando struggled to establish consistent rhythm against the Cavaliers’ defensive pressure.
Charlotte Overcomes Milwaukee
Charlotte Hornets secured a 105-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks after overcoming a slow start at the opening tip. Brandon Miller paced the Hornets with 18 points, anchoring a balanced attack that wore down Milwaukee’s defense as the game progressed.
Milwaukee received a game-high tying 18 points from Tyler Herro, alongside 12 points apiece from Kyle Kuzma and Ryan Rollins. However, the Bucks faltered from beyond the arc as Charlotte’s defensive rotations locked down the perimeter in the second half.
Denver Outlasts Chicago in High-Scoring Clash
Denver Nuggets edged the Chicago Bulls 133-128 in a high-octane encounter that remained close until the final minutes. Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists to anchor the Nuggets’ offense, while Aaron Gordon contributed 23 points.
Chicago kept the pressure on through energetic play from its younger rotation pieces. Leonard Miller starred for the Bulls with 26 points and 7 rebounds, complemented by 17 points from Caleb Wilson, but Denver executed down the stretch to preserve the five-point win.
Regular Season Preparations Continue
With the regular season approaching, all three winning franchises gathered vital data on roster depth and tactical execution. Cleveland leans on veteran poise, Charlotte relies on collective defensive energy, and Denver continues to run its offense through the reigning core.
Match Results
- Cleveland Cavaliers 119, Orlando Magic 105
- Charlotte Hornets 105, Milwaukee Bucks 90
- Denver Nuggets 133, Chicago Bulls 128
Worth a look
