Magic vs Cavaliers: In a thrilling Game 1 showdown, Donovan Mitchell’s commanding 30-point performance guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to a resounding 97-83 victory over the Orlando Magic, setting a strong tone for their playoff campaign
“Last year is behind us,” Mitchell stated. “We’ve moved on. This is who we are, and this is the standard we hold ourselves to.”
Evan Mobley contributed 16 points, and Darius Garland added 14 for Cleveland. This victory was a far cry from their previous postseason disappointment when they succumbed to the New York Knicks in just five games in 2023.
That defeat left a mark on the Cavs, who entered this postseason with increased confidence, depth (at least on paper), and relatively good health following a regular season plagued by injuries.
Although Mitchell had been hampered by a left knee bone bruise for the past two months, the All-Star guard showed significant improvement and resembled his usual self, serving as Cleveland’s primary offensive threat for over two quarters.
In a defining moment of the first half, Mitchell stole the ball and executed a powerful dunk, signaling his return and the Cavaliers’ resurgence in his second postseason with the team.
“This is my identity,” Mitchell affirmed. “I’ve been saying it all year. This is why I’m here. It doesn’t matter if I score 10 points as long as we get the job done.”
Orlando’s Paolo Banchero managed to score 24 points in his playoff debut but struggled with nine turnovers. The Magic shot a dismal 33% from the field, partly due to poor shooting and partly due to Cleveland’s tenacious defense.
“We couldn’t get enough points on the board,” Banchero admitted. “We had some good looks, but our shots weren’t falling. We missed a lot of free throws (19 of 30) and couldn’t connect from beyond the arc (8 of 37). There were many areas where we could have performed better.”
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday at the energetic Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where Cavaliers fans are eager to see their team continue their playoff journey after last year’s disappointment against the Knicks.
Despite only getting two hours of sleep due to pregame nerves and the early 1 p.m. tip-off, Mitchell quickly shifted into playoff mode upon arriving at the arena, spurred on by Phil Collins’ anthem “In The Air Tonight” blaring through the speakers.
“He’s built for these moments, whether it’s Game 1s or crucial matchups during the regular season,” remarked Cavs coach J.B. Bickestaff. “He understands the importance of getting off to a strong start.”
Similar to the Cavaliers last year, the Magic lack playoff experience, and it showed in their disorganized offense and Banchero’s tendency to force plays, despite his 9-of-17 shooting performance in 41 minutes.
The Cavaliers have been waiting all season for an opportunity at redemption following last year’s disappointing playoff exit. While they controlled most of the game, they faced a drought, managing only seven field goals over an 18-minute stretch. Despite this, they maintained a narrow lead of 60-56 until Banchero’s three-point play with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
Mitchell then took charge with consecutive baskets, propelling Cleveland to close the third quarter with a 13-2 run, giving them a comfortable 15-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
Although the Magic managed to trim a 20-point deficit to nine in the final quarter, the Cavaliers responded decisively, and Mitchell’s 3-pointer with 4:44 left extinguished any hopes of an Orlando comeback.
Tempers flared between the teams in the second quarter, resulting in some heated exchanges, finger-pointing, and two technical fouls.
Orlando’s Moritz Wagner pushed Mobley as he fell out of bounds, prompting Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro to shove Wagner and receive a technical foul.
Moments later, Magic guard Markelle Fultz was charged with a flagrant-1 foul on Georges Niang, who was driving to the basket. Niang’s reaction earned him a technical foul as well, much to the delight of the Cleveland crowd.
As if to underscore the intensity of playoff basketball, Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” blared over the arena’s sound system during the review of Fultz’s foul.
“It’s the playoffs,” Niang remarked. “You expect everything to be cranked up to another level. I was ready for the physicality. That’s just playoff basketball — it’s a battle. You might have friends out there, but once you step on the court, it’s all business.”
