# Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic preseason matchups

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cleveland-cavaliers-and-orlando-magic-preseason-matchups
> Updated: 2026-10-13T21:34:13.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Cleveland Cavaliers prepared for their upcoming regular season by facing the Orlando Magic in their preseason finale. The matchup served as a final evaluation period for head coach Kenny Atkinson to test rotations and backcourt combinations.

During the finale, Sam Merrill was sidelined due to right elbow soreness, which limited the team’s perimeter scoring options. In his absence, the Cavaliers utilized backup guards Craig Porter Jr. and Tyrese Proctor. For the Orlando Magic, the game featured the return of starting point guard Jalen Suggs following a previous illness and showcased a new offensive approach under head coach Sean Sweeney.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: Cleveland Cavaliers finish preseason as Sam Merrill misses finale

Sam Merrill missed the Cleveland Cavaliers' preseason finale against the Orlando Magic due to right elbow soreness, affecting the team's rotation ahead of the regular season opener on October 22.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cleveland-cavaliers-finish-preseason-as-sam-merrill-misses-finale

### 2026-10-10: Cleveland Cavaliers face Orlando Magic in preseason finale

The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Orlando Magic in their final preseason home game, with players competing for roster spots and the team looking to improve defensive performance.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cleveland-cavaliers-face-orlando-magic-in-preseason-finale

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Cite as: Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic preseason matchups. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cleveland-cavaliers-and-orlando-magic-preseason-matchups