Magic 94 - 106 Cavaliers summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 7
Strus put the exclamation mark on the Game 7 victory as the Cavs make amends for getting knocked out in the first round of last year's playoffs by the New York Knicks. Cleveland needed seven games to do it, but they are finally in the Eastern Conference Semis for the first time since the LeBron era in 2018.
The Cavs will now travel to Boston for Game 1 against the Celtics on Tuesday at 7 pm ET.
Darius Garland was 1/10 from the field before this shot, but his teammates continued to show confidence in their point guard and he ended up hitting one of the biggest shots of the game. He ended the night with 12 points, most of those coming late the fourth quarter.
The Cavs went into the final quarter with an 8 point lead and they would extend it all the way to 14 as Mitchell and company continued hitting tough, clutch shots.
Strus had 11 points in the third quarter and ended the night with 13. The Cavs took the lead with this shot and never gave it back.
Mitchell had 17 in the third quarter, and tied the game with this off balanced runner in the lane. Orlando's offense went cold in the third quarter, scoring just 15 points and it took Banchero and Wagner too long to get their rhythm back. Wagner really struggled, scoring just six points in the Game 7 loss.
Cavs coach P.J. Bickerstaff told ESPN's Lisa Salters Mitchell "knew what time it was" coming out of the break down ten, and he switched gears and took over in the third quarter.
Max Strus went scoreless in the first half, but caught fire out of the halftime break as he and Mitchell rallied to put the Cavs back in front.
Sam Merrill came off the bench and drilled two three triples when the Cavs needed most. He ended the game with 9 points, but his buckets came right in the middle of a 10-2 run that cut the lead to 10 at the first half.
Cleveland went down by as many as 18 in the first half but the defense started to lock down, and that led to easy bucket on the other end. Evan Mobley had an efficient night on the offensive end with 11 points and crushed it on the boards with 16 rebounds.
Spida was coming off of a 50 points loss to the Magic in Game 5, and knew that if the Cavs were going to win it was going to take the whole team to chip in. That wasn't the case in the first half, so he had to carry his side until the rest of the crew got going.
With the Cavs starters struggling to find their flow on the offensive end, Caris LeVert had to come to the rescue and inject some energy in the first half. He had 15 points off the bench and kept this game from getting ugly before halftime.
The Cleveland Cavaliers closed out of the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of the opening round series, taking advantage of home court advantage with their fourth win at the Rocket Mortgage Field House. Donovan Mitchell had another monster game to knock the Magic out and keep his team alive scoring 39 points in the 106-94 win.
We all knew who was going to come out and find the flow on the offensive end for the Cavs, but unfortunately he was the only one for the home team early on. The Magic came out early, and took control of the game thanks to a brilliant Game 7 debut from Paolo Banchero who had 24 in the first half and 38 on the night.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Cleveland Cavaliers come back from an 18 point first half deficit to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 106-94 win over the Orlando Magic.
Garland back to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Anthony.
Banchero walks to the cup and gets an uncontested lay up to fall.
Garland to the line after the foul on Harris and he hits one of two FTs.
Harris with a three ball from the wing but that's coming way to late for the Magic.
Mobley follows up the Mitchell miss with a two handed slam down low!
LeVert finds Strus wide open underneath and he slams it down!
Timeout Cavs with 1:42 to go in the 4th quarter.
Anthony fouled by Strus and he hits both FTs.
Mitchell sent to the FT line by Anthony and he hits both FTs.
Suggs fouled on the three and he hits two of three FTs after Mobley got a piece of him.
Mobley fouled by Suggs down low and he hits one of two FTs with 2:06 to go in the 4th.
Garland with the steal out of the timeout and he gets the push shot to go in the lane!
Garland to the line after the foul on Harris and he hits both FTs.
Timeout Magic with 3:22 to go.
Banchero gets his own rebound underneath and he puts it back up and in.
Mitchell to the line after the foul on Carter and he hits both FTs.
Wagner to the line after a foul on Garland and he hits both FTs. It's a 7 points game with 4:15 to go.
Banchero to the line after the foul on Okoro and he hits one of two FTs.
Pick and roll from Garland to Mobley who catches and releases a floater in the lane.
Carter on the offensive board, he gets the hoop and the harm. FT is good after the foul on Mobley.
Mitchell with the offensive rebounds on the fly and he gets to the baseline before kicking it out to Garland who just missed a three from the corner, but this time he sticks it!
Timeout Orland with 5:52 to go in the 4th.
Banchero explodes down the lane and throws it down with two hands.
Mobley spins off the dribble and hits the floater in the lane.
Banchero to the line and he hits one of two FTs after the foul on Mobley.
Quick pass up court to LeVert from Garland and he stretches for the reverse lay up on the break.
Anthony takes a dribble and floats it up and off the glass from outside the lane.
Timeout Cavs with 8:16 to go in the 4th quarter.
Okoro takes the bump from Ingles and finishes with the runner in the paint.
Banchero to the line after the foul on LeVert and he hits both FTs.
Mitchell pulls the trigger on a deep three from the top of the key and knocks it down!
Flutz starts the quarter with a pull up jumper from the elbow.
WE ARE AT THE END THE THIRD QUARTER AND THE CAVS TOOK OVER AFTER THE HALF!
Struss had 11 in the quarter and Mitchell had 17. He's got 32 on the night.
Okoro to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Fultz.
Struss off the handoff from Thompson and he drills the three ball from the wing!
Struss drills a three ball from the corner off the kick out from LeVert and he's got all 8 of his points in this quarter.
Suggs to the line after the foul on Mobley and he hits both FTs.
Timeout here from Cleveland with 2:44 to go in the 3rd quarter. Mitchell has 17 in the 3rd quarter.
MItchell going back to the rack and he gets the tough lay up to fall.
Fultz off the dribble and goes at Mobley with the reverse underneath.
LeVrt to the line after the foul on Mo Wagner and he hits both to give the Cavs their first lead since early in the first quarter with 3:39 to go in the 3rd.
Mitchell into the paint and throws an off balanced runner up after hearing the whistle for the foul on Fultz and he hits it! FT is no good.
LeVert to the line after the foul on Carter and he hits one of two FTs.
LeVert hits Mitchell with a long out let pass and he takes it in for the lay up on the break!
Wagner finds Banchero and he strings the three ball from the wing for his first bucket of the half.
Mitchell hits both FTs and the lead is down to 2.
Mitchell is fouled by Carter and will go to the line after a timeout with under 7:00 to go in the 3rd.
Mitchell back into the mix off the dribble and he gets it to fall in traffic.
Garland missed a lay up on one end and Suggs drills a step in three from the wing.
Struss catches it on the fly and takes it to the cup for the lay up.
Banchero to the line after the blocking foul on Struss and he hits one of two FTs.
Mitchell is starting to take this game over. He went right at Banchero and laid it up and over him off the glass.
Wagner to the line after the foul on Garland and he hits both FTs.
Mitchell pulls the trigger and drills another three ball! The lead has been cut down to 4!
Struss off the dribble and he hits the three to open his account tonight!
Harris over the top to Carter who throws it down with the alley oop from inside the lane.
Mitchell sprints to the rack and lays it in to start the half.
WE ARE BACK IN CLEVELAND FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
The bench is keeping the Cavs in this game as the starters struggle. Merrill his two threes and has 8 points off the bench and this capped a 12-2 run the Cavs went on to claw back in this game.
It took a little while to get the ball rolling, but the defense buckled down at the end of the second half, and turned defense into offense. Mitchell needs some help. He's got 15, but none of the starters have more than 4.
Not much went right for the Cavs in the first 12 minutes. They had just 6 FGs in the opening quarter, but Mitchell carried them while the rest of the team struggled.
The Cavs got off to a terrible shooting start and Wendell Carter Jr. and company used that to stretch the lead to double digits early in the first quarter. Carter has 8 points heading into the break.
Paolo Banchero is in his first playoff Game 7, and is showing no signs of nerves. The sophomore got going right out of the gate and hasn't slowed down. He's got 24 after two quarters.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME WITH THE MAGIC LEADING BY 10!!!
The Magic were up as many as 18 points, but the Cavs came chipping back.
Banchero bullies LeVert to the iron and he lays it up and in.
Merrill steps into a three ball on the break and drills it from the wing!
Isaac responds with a baseline jumper to quiet the crowd.
LeVert fakes the behind the back pass and lays it up and in over Harris.
Mitchell to the line after the foul on Suggs and he hits one of two FTs.
LeVert going right into the body of Isaac in transition and gets the runner to fall.
Timeout Magic with 2:38 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Mitchell weaving through the lane off the dribble and he lays it up in traffic.
Okoro slashes to the bucket and LeVert found him for the lay up.
The call stands and Banchero hits both FTs.
Banchero was fouled by Okoro on the jumper, but CLE wants to challenge that call.
Merrill to the line after the foul on Harris and he hits both FTs.
Harris drills a three ball after the offensive board and kickout from Isaac.
Carter sends Mitchell to the line where he hits both FTs.
Banchero to the line after the foul on Garland and he hits both FTs. He's got 20 points in the first half.
Mitchell to the line after the foul on Wagner and he hits both FTs. That' three fouls on Wagner.
Carter answers back with a three ball from the top of the key off the kick out from F. Wagner.
Merrill drills the three pointer fro the top of the key just after he comes off the bench.
Banchero to the line after the foul on Strus and he hits both FTs.
Okoro goes right into the heart of the defense and lays it up over traffic in the paint.
Banchero to the line after the foul on Strus and he hits both FTs.
Anthony pulls up from the baseline and sticks it from right outside the lane.
Mitchell running the break and he lobs it up for Mobley for the alley oop in transition!
Anthony with the floater in the lane out of the timeout and that stretches the run to 9-0 run ORL.
Banchero gets his own miss underneath and puts it back up and in!
Timeout Cavs with 9:43 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Banchero crosses over from the elbow and finger rolls it home from inside the lane.
Mo Wagner off the bench and he drills the three ball from the top of the key to start the second quarter.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER FROM CLEVELAND.
Cleveland shot just 6/22 from the field, but Mitchell and LaVert carried the Cavs, who trail by 6. Mitchell has 8 and LaVert has 6 off the bench.
Bachero has 10 and Carter Jr. has 5 as the Magic struggled from the field as well, shooting just 36%.
Thompson with an offensive rebound, and he kicks it out to Mitchell who catches it in stride and lays it up and the bucket.
Fultz stretches to the iron and lays it up in traffic.
LaVert starting to get going in the first quarter. He drives on Isaac and lays it in and gets the foul. FT is good.
Fultz off the bench and one to the scoreboard with a fadeway form the FT line.
LaVert to the line after the foul on Wagner and he hits one of two FTs.
Timeout Magic with 1:49 to go in the first quarter.
LaVert down the lane from the top of the key and he lays it up and in for the first bucket for CLE in the last five minutes.
Suggs lobs it up for Carter Jr. who throws down the alley oop on the baseline.
Banchero to the line after trying to throw down a big jam on Mobley, and he hits both FTs.
Banchero spreads it wide for Carter Jr. and he drills it for a 9-0 run for the Magic.
Timeout Cavs with 6:17 to go in the first quarter.
Bancheron drills a three ball from the wing and he's got no Game 7 jitters out of the gate.
Wagner pulls down his own rebound and kicks it out for Banchero who drills the three from the top of the key!
Mitchell to the line after the foul on Wagner and he hits both. That's six points for Spidah already.
Garland slashes to the iron and gets the lay up to fall.
Wagner shifting into the lane off the dribble and floats it up over Mobley.
Mitchell to the line after the foul on Banchero and he hits both FTs.
Mobley gets it down low and finishes with the jump hook in the paint.
Banchero finds Suggs at the top of the key and he sinks it from long range.
Mitchell dives to the rack and lays it up off the glass. Both teams' stars are on the board already.
Banchero gets us going with a pull up from the baseline.
GAME 7 IS UNDERWAY FROM CLEVELAND!!!
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Cleveland's sorrows without LeBron
The city has had a long history of disappointment and heartache with their sports teams. That is until one of their home grown heroes turned the fortune of an entire city around and lifted them to championship glory for the first time ever. Without LeBron, the Cavs have a tough time getting to the playoffs, and when they reach the postseason, they really struggle getting deep into the playoffs, our Joe Brennan has more.
It's confirmed. Jarrett Allen is out of tonight's Game 7, so it's going to be up to Okoro and Mobley to do the dirty work down low. It's Garlandm Mitchell, Struss, Okoro and Mobly starting the must win match up at home.
The Orlando Magic don't have much playoff experience, but this team has grown up in the first six games of this series. They didn't look ready for the playoffs in the opening two games, but they are ready for Game 7. It's Suggs, Harris, Carter Jr., Banchero and Wagner starting off this must min match up in Cleveland.
Allen pending
The Cleveland Cavaliers were without their big man, Jarrett Allen on Friday night in Orlando after the center was sidelined with a rib injury during the Cavs Game 5 win in Cleveland. Allen averaged 16.5 games in the regular season, and is a massive presence in the paint on the defensive end. Today, he comes into the game as questionable with a rib contusion. Our Joe Brennan has more.
Put the Banch-ero on it
In just his second season, Paolo Banchero is showing exactly why the Magic took him with the top pick in the NBA Draft. After winning Rookie of the Year last year on a talented, but very young team he led that same squad to the playoffs for the first time in three years and is tying to bring this franchise back to deep in the playoffs for the first time since 2010. In his first playoffs series, he is averaging 25.2 points, 7.3 rebound and 4.3 assists. He had 31 in the Magic’s must win match up in Game 3 after going down 0-2. He had 37 in the near win from Cleveland in Game 5, and posted 27 and closed out the game in the 4th quarter like a seasoned vet.
Spidah in the spotlight
While he may not be a household name in this year’s edition of the playoffs, Donovan Mitchell is a bonafide super star. Unfortunately he has spent is career in Utah and in Cleveland. Those aren’t exactly huge markets, so that could be by Spidah doesn’t get enough credit for just how spectacular he is. Maybe you have been a bit distracted by all the other series in the first round to pay attention to the Cavs-Magic game, which is admittedly the least sexy of the opening batch of games, but this is the only game of the day, and Mitchell is going to rise to the occasion. He dropped 50 last game, and averaged 26.6 points in the regular season. You can be sure that he will show up today, at home, with the Cavs season on the line.
Game 6 recap
The Magic need a win to stretch the series to a seventh and decisive game on Friday night, and Paolo Banchero and company delivered the goods in front of a home crowd that has been starving for a post season run. The game was tight throughout, and no team stretched the lead out to more than 9 points as both teams exchanged their share of the lead throughout the game. Donovan Mitchell went nuts in Orlando, scoring 50 points and keeping his team in the game, but no one else showed up in the fourth quarter for the Cavs. Literally no one. He scored all of the Cavs 18 points in the final 12 minutes while Banchero who had 27 and Jalen Suggs who chipped in another 22 closed out Game 6 and forced a must win matchup tonight from Cleveland.
We are live from Cleveland
Hello everyone and welcome to Cleveland where the Cavaliers have taken care of business in every game this series, but need one more win in Game 7 if they are going to move on to the Conference semifinals for the first time since the LeBron era. The Magic haven’t been past the second round in over a decade but they have a young crop of talent that is looking to take this franchise on a deep playoff run for the first time in a long time. It’s a winner take all matchup here from Rocket Mortgage. Who survives and advances today? We have 48 minutes to find out.
Magic vs. Cavs Game 7
They are the two most beautiful words in sports: Game 7, and we have a Sunday matinee for you today from Cleveland. The final matchup of the opening round of the playoffs will be wrapped up today as the Cavaliers take on the Orlando Magic for a do or die game from Rocket Mortgage Field House and AS English will be with you all day providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis as we wait for a winner to be crowner in this intense first round series.