From Orlando's postgame: Jase Richardson was "a catalyst in terms of his energy, in terms of his pace attacking" in a second-half run against Cleveland. He said the big change is pace: "I was stuck on, you know, one speed. I think this year I'm being a lot more patient."
"I'm glad to be back. Glad to be able to play basketball again," Orlando's Noah Penda said at shootaround. Getting slimmer helped his cardio, movement and recovery; his shot work since Summer League is about "staying down more." He's learning the new staff's schemes.
Cleveland's Mario Hezonja has no set role yet. Kenny Atkinson wants him to "be aggressive, make plays, you know, shoot open shots," and said it's "too early" to put him in a 10-man rotation. He said Hezonja "could be really good" crashing in from the 3-point line for rebounds.
James Harden "had a full practice," Kenny Atkinson said, "so assume he's going to play and start" in Cleveland's second preseason game. Atkinson thinks everybody is available, and the Cavaliers will "increase the minutes too for our main guys."
Peyton Watson started next to Jarrett Allen in a game for the first time. "It felt good," Allen said at Cleveland's practice. "I felt like he adjusted very well." He said Watson's defensive switching, 3-point shooting and athleticism will be huge for the starters.
Franz Wagner handling the ball is by design: he's done it all camp, Orlando's Sean Sweeney said. Nikola Vucevic credits Wagner's passing to "Michigan education... although they do cheat in football." Sweeney didn't commit on Anthony Black or Noah Penda: "you can't skip steps."
Jalen Suggs "did more" at Magic practice and "was looking more like himself," Sean Sweeney said; Nikola Vucevic expects him ready for the regular season. With Suggs and Anthony Black out, Jase Richardson and Jevon Carter play point; Sweeney liked Richardson's last game.