Evan Mobley’s ‘surreal’ reaction to Cavs’ game-saving block of Franz Wagner

In a dogfight of a Game 5 with the Orlando Magic, Evan Mobley proved to be the Cleveland Cavaliers’ hero, as his crucial late-game block helped the Cavs take a 3-2 lead back to Orlando.

After Donovan Mitchell missed a pull-up jumper at one end, the Magic, down 102-100 with about a dozen seconds left in regulation, desperately needed a basket. The ball found its way to Franz Wagner, who was initially guarded by Max Strus until a pick-and-roll forced a switch, putting the rangy Mobley on Wagner.

Trying to take advantage of a moment of hesitation by Mobley, Wagner drove hard with his left and seemed to get by Mobley as he elevated to the rim. Just as he jumped into the air, Wagner put the ball into his right hand as he tried for a contested layup.

Mobley sniffed out the play perfectly, however, meeting Wagner at the rim and blocking the ball from behind with his left hand. The ball bounced off of the glass and rim and into the hands of Strus before the Magic fouled Mitchell for the Cavaliers’ game-sealing free throws.

After the game, Mobley described his thoughts and emotions.

“It was just surreal,” Mobley said (via the Akron Beacon Journal’s Nate Ulrich). “Honestly, I’ve got to watch it back. I don’t even know what was going on. I was just out there to play the game, and it was just a big play. I knew it was, and we got it done.

“The game was on the line. I just went for it.”

Mobley’s teammates were also quick to praise the young big man.

“Evan’s been great all year,” Max Strus said. “Evan’s been phenomenal, so Evan steps up when we need him the most. Evan has shown that he’s willing to step up in big moments, and he did again tonight.”

Marcus Morris Sr. also said moments like Tuesday’s game-saving block are “going to be really, really good for [Mobley] in the long run.”

Evan Mobley, Cavaliers face big Game 6