The Magic Insider

Magic Homecourt Advantage 'Huge' in Game 3 vs. Cavaliers

The Orlando Magic fed off their home crowd's energy in their Game 3 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Jeremy Brener

Apr 25, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots a three point
Apr 25, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots a three point / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
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ORLANDO — It had been a little over five years since the Kia Center hosted an Orlando Magic playoff game, and about 13 years since a win. But both droughts ended on Thursday night after the Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-83 in Game 3 of their first round series.

The Magic learned how hostile playoff environments can be firsthand in Games 1 & 2 in Cleveland, but with the crowd back on their side in Orlando, it played a significant part in the team's win.

"You see everybody stand up, you hear everybody cheer [and] you hear the roars," Jalen Suggs said. You know, I think it excites you to come back down, get a stop [and] go do it again. It gives you a bit of extra motivation. Some juice. Some more pop in your step. So, it was definitely felt, and it was rocking
in here today. Boy, that was fun. We [were] talking about it all game – just how lit, how energetic
it is in there, and yeah, I’d like to keep doing this here.”

The sold out crowd of 18,846 fans were a sea of blue on Thursday night with their brand new "Everybody In" shirts, and once the Magic built a lead in the first quarter, the energy and noise seemed to carry the team to a larger lead.

“They played a huge role," Paolo Banchero said of the crowd. "I don’t think people realize how much of a difference it makes, you know, when you make a play, or you score and the whole arena erupts every single time. It just gives you a huge energy boost and it makes you forget that you’re tired or whatever
it may be. Definitely give a lot of credit to the Magic faithful.”

In Saturday's Game 4, the Magic crowd will have another chance to give their hometown team an advantage in hopes of tying the series before it goes back to Cleveland for Game 5 on Tuesday. If the Magic win, it's a brand new series. But if it's a loss, it could be the last time the Magic play in Orlando this season.

Related stories on the Orlando Magic

  • GAME 3 RECAP: The Orlando Magic blew out the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. CLICK HERE
  • HOW MAGIC TURNED IT AROUND ON OFFENSE: The Orlando Magic's offense rebounded in their 121-83 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. CLICK HERE
  • JOB'S NOT FINISHED: The Orlando Magic have bigger goals in mind after winning Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. CLICK HERE
  • PAOLO MAKES HISTORY: Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is doing big things in his first playoffs. CLICK HERE
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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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