Cavs’ Evan Mobley Wows NBA Fans with Clutch Block in Game 5 Win vs. Banchero, Magic
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVMay 1, 2024
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
Another game in the first-round series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic and another home team victory.
This time it was Cleveland defending home-court advantage at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Tuesday’s Game 5 with a 104-103 win, which gave it a 3-2 lead in the series. Evan Mobley played the role of defensive hero with a game-saving block on Franz Wagner in the final seconds when the Cavaliers were holding onto a two-point lead.
His interior defensive presence was even more important because Cleveland was without big man Jarrett Allen because of a rib injury.
Mobley posted a double-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks, while Donovan Mitchell (28 points) and Darius Garland (23 points) spearheaded the scoring efforts.
Every point was necessary considering Paolo Banchero was so dominant on the other side with 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Yet the Magic went to Wagner with the game on the line, and social media reacted to Mobley’s block:
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportEVAN MOBLEY BLOCKS WAGNER’S GAME-TYING LAYUP ATTEMPT š±
CAVS WIN pic.twitter.com/ryIX6xmAGY
Ben Axelrod @BenAxelrodMobley finally getting some stops on Banchero for the Cavs was even bigger than his finishes down the stretch.
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSThis feels like a potentially transformative night for Evan Mobley’s future. A sign that he’s ready to be a full-time center, and Cleveland’s path forward is to embrace that.
Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoopsThat’s one hell of a block by Evan Mobley.
Landon šāļøšĀ®ļø @Armentro1LandonDarius Garland and Evan Mobley with their legacies on the line pic.twitter.com/3PdKusoJF8
Austin Carr @MrCavalier34Cavs get it done, MOBLEY with a game winning BLOCK, one of best defensive players in NBA, showed why tonight, well good night, stay safe, on to Orlando , try to close it out
steve ceruti @CerutiTip your cap to Mobley man that’s just a great play
Colb @___Colb___Evan Mobley’s defense in that fourth quarter, specifically on Paolo, won the Cleveland Cavaliers this game just want to make sure there’s no narratives.
Sam Amico @AmicoHoopsThere are few things more beautiful to Cavs fans than seeing Evan Mobley reject a Wagner brother at the rim with the game on the line.
Danny Cunningham @RealDCunninghamEvan Mobley was fantastic down the stretch tonight. Awesome stuff on both ends of the floor.
Jackson Frank @jackfrank_jjfFew defenders in the world better than Evan Mobley. What a ridiculously special defender
Brian Geltzeiler @BGeltzNBAIn a year where Evan Mobley did not make a lot of progress improving his game, he just owned the most important basketball minute of his life up until now. Two big dunks and an amazing stop at the rim on Wagner
Cavs SZN @Cavs_EnthusiastEVAN MOBLEY WITH THE BLOCK OF A LIFETIMEā¼ļø
While Mobley was the late hero, Garland set the tone in the early going.
He poured in 17 points in the first quarter alone as he caught fire from three-point range, while Mitchell did the heavy lifting as a scorer in the second quarter. It seemed like the Cavaliers were going to run away with things as they built a double-digit lead.
However, the Magic came flying back with Banchero doing a little bit of everything.
He attacked the basket, unleashed from three-point range and demonstrated soft touch in the lane. The Cavaliers had no answers for extended stretches, especially with Mitchell struggling with his outside shot.
Yet Garland and Mobley fittingly made the biggest offensive play of the game with the guard dicing his way through the defense and finding the big man for an easy look to extend the lead to four in the final minute.
Orlando still closed to within two with a chance to tie, but the Mobley block gave the Cavaliers the win and the opportunity to close the series on the road in Friday’s Game 6.
