If you haven’t been keeping up with the first-round playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic, you’re not alone.
Considering their status as two of the more unproven teams in this year’s postseason, most of the matchups between Cavs and Magic have been relegated to NBA TV.
That was the case on Tuesday, as the Game 5 showdown between Cleveland and Orlando took a backseat to the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, whose own Game 5 aired on TNT. But anyone who did manage to find a way to watch the Cavs vs. the Magic on Tuesday night saw a great game, which Gus Johnson happened to be on the call for.
Throughout the contest, Johnson was his usual excitable self, praising Darius Garland’s 17-point first-quarter and Paolo Banchero’s 39-point performance. But his best called was reserved for the game’s closing seconds, in which Cleveland center Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner’s layup attempt with five seconds left to secure what was ultimately a 104-103 Cavs win.
“Shot clock turned off. Wagner crossed over. Left wing, drives to the hole. Blocked by Mobley! What a block!” Johnson exclaimed. “With 3.2 to go. Evan Mobley, one of the best in the world.”
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Johnson is one of the preeminent voices of college football and basketball for Fox, where he has even become a polarizing presence thanks to his over-the-top style (and sometimes forced nicknames). Nevertheless, the sound of Johnson calling an NBA playoff game that came down to the wire was a welcome one, with many taking to social media to praise his call of Mobley’s game-sealing block.
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In case you haven’t been keeping up with the less heralded playoff matchups in recent seasons, Johnson has actually been calling playoff games for NBA TV since 2022. It remains unclear whether Tuesday night’s matchup will mark his final call of the NBA season as the first-round schedule condense. But if it was, it was a heckuva way to go out this year.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.