CLEVELAND (AP) — Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 22 and the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 6-0 with a 120-109 victory Friday night against the Orlando Magic, who played their first game without injured All-Star Paolo Banchero.

The Cavs are the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference. The last time Cleveland started 6-0 was in 2016 with LeBron James. 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 first-round playoff series, won by the Cavs in seven games.

Banchero is expected to miss at least a month – and possibly more – with a torn right oblique. The No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft was on an early tear, averaging 29 points with 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists before getting injured on Wednesday.

Orlando’s Jalen Suggs scored a career-high 28 points to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Franz Wagner had 17 points.

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

Takeaways

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

Cavaliers: Have bought into first-year coach Kenny Atkinson’s offensive system by playing at a faster pace and shooting more 3-pointers.

Key moment

The Magic trailed and were still within 10 late in the third quarter, when Cavs reserves Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill and Georges Niang all made 3-pointers in the final 2:17 to give Cleveland a lead by 17 points before the fourth.

Key statistic

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

To be continued

The Magic continue their trip to Dallas on Sunday. The Cavs play Saturday at Milwaukee before hosting the Bucks on Monday.

___

APNBA: