Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff appeared to question the officiating following his team’s defeat to the Orlando Magic in Game 6, noting the significant contrast in free-throw opportunities between the two sides.
Bickerstaff remarked, “It’s interesting that despite our numerous drives to the paint, we only managed to shoot 10 free throws throughout the entire game. It seems they allowed a more physical style of play. On the contrary, the Magic had 26 free-throw attempts. Such a substantial gap is hard to overlook.”
The Cavs fell short 103-96, setting up a decisive Game 7 in Cleveland. Notably, the home team has emerged victorious in each contest of this first-round series.
In addition to the disparity in free throws, the Cavaliers struggled to convert their limited opportunities, making just five out of 10 attempts (50.0%), while the Magic capitalized on 22 of their 26 tries (84.6%).
The notable 17-point difference in free-throw scoring clearly influenced the outcome of a tightly contested match decided by a mere seven points. Despite holding a nine-point lead in the third quarter and Donovan Mitchell’s 50-point performance, the Cavs failed to seal the series and progress to the second round for the first time since the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
Throughout the series, the Cavs have accumulated a total of 110 free-throw attempts, while the Magic have successfully converted 110 free throws out of their 146 attempts.
Friday’s struggles extended beyond the free-throw line, with Cleveland managing to sink only 25.0% of their 3-point attempts (7-for-28), including a dismal 1-for-14 in the first half. Their overall 3-point shooting accuracy in the series stands at just 28.1% across six games.
These challenges echo the Cavs’ disappointing playoff exit to the New York Knicks last season, characterized by offensive struggles leading to a five-game elimination. However, they can draw some solace from their dominant performances at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where they secured victories over the Magic in the first two games by double-digit margins before narrowly winning 104-103 on Tuesday.
Having played two consecutive games without the injured Jarret Allen, it remains uncertain whether he will be available for Game 7. The winner will advance to face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the second round, following Boston’s five-game series victory over the Miami Heat, concluded on Wednesday.
