The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a historic comeback to beat the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series. The Cavs trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half before storming back in the second half, led by star guard Donovan Mitchell.
The win allows the Cavaliers to advance to the second round, where they will face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in a best-of-seven series beginning Tuesday night in Boston.
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Mitchell Leads Cavs with 39 Points
Mitchell was the catalyst behind Cleveland‘s second-half surge, scoring 17 of his game-high 39 points in the third quarter alone. After scoring just 12 first-half points, Mitchell caught fire after halftime, attacking the basket and earning trips to the free-throw line.
“Donovan put the team on his back,” said Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “His will to win drove us in that second half.”
Banchero’s Big Night Not Enough for Magic
While the Cavaliers got stellar play from their stars, Orlando‘s young phenom Paolo Banchero did all he could to extend the Magic‘s season. The sophmore forward scored a team-high 38 points, with 24 coming in a dominant first-half performance.
“Paolo played out of his mind tonight,” said Magic guard Markelle Fultz. “It’s just a shame we couldn’t close it out when we had the chance.”
Banchero consistently beat the Cavs‘ defense off the dribble and finished through contact at the rim. However, he ran out of steam down the stretch, failing to score in the game’s final 5 minutes.
Third Quarter Run Changes Momentum
While Banchero dominated the first half, it was the Cavaliers‘ complete control in the third quarter that ultimately decided the game. Cleveland outscored Orlando 33-15 in the period, flipping an 11-point halftime deficit into an 8-point lead heading into the fourth.
The Cavs shot 63% from the field in the quarter compared to just 27% shooting for the Magic. Cleveland also crashed the offensive glass during the period, earning multiple extra possessions to fuel their scoring barrage.
“The third quarter was the difference,” Bickerstaff said. “Our guys showed unbelievable fight and belief in one another.”
Next Up: Celtics in Round 2
With the victory, Cleveland advances to take on the league-best Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Celtics won 64 games during the regular season and quickly dispatched the Miami Heat in 5 games in their first-round series.
The Celtics and Cavaliers split their four regular-season meetings this year, with each team winning both home games. While Boston is heavily favored to reach the Conference Finals, don’t expect the gritty Cavs to back down from the challenge.
“We have all the confidence in the world heading into this series,” Mitchell declared. “It’s going to be a battle, but we’ll be ready.”
Game 1 between the Cavaliers and Celtics tips off Tuesday at 8 PM EST in Boston. The series then shifts to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4.
Sources:
www.cbssports.com/nba/news/cavaliers-vs-magic-score-donovan-mitchell-leads-historic-game-7-comeback-cleveland-moves-on-to-face-celtics/live/
www.six-mile-ranch.ca/sp-news/2024/05/06/cleveland-cavaliers-win-game-7-with-historic-win-over-orlando-magic/
