NBA

When does the Cavaliers vs Magic playoff series start? Dates and times of all the games

The Cavs, who will be without Dean Wade, will hope the playoffs against Orlando give Darius Garland the platform to rediscover his best form.

HARRY HOW | AFP

Roddy Cons

Scottish sports journalist and content creator. After running his own soccer-related projects, in 2022 he joined Diario AS, where he mainly reports on the biggest news from around Europe’s leading soccer clubs, Liga MX and MLS, and covers live games in a not-too-serious tone. Likes to mix things up by dipping into the world of American sports.

Update: Apr 20th, 2024 03:03 EDT

The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA playoffs, in which point guard Darius Garland will be hoping to shine after a disappointing season so far. Key reserve Dean Wade will miss out for the Cavaliers due to injury, but the Magic have no players at all on the most recent injury report.

When is the Cavaliers vs Magic playoff series?

The Cavaliers, who claimed the East’s No.4 seed with a 48-34 regular-season record, will now host the Magic in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday 20 April (tip-off at 1:00 p.m. ET).

next stop,, Cleveland pic.twitter.com/DRWlcZ1RMS
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 19, 2024

As the lower seed, Orlando will only have home advantage in a maximum of three match-ups in the best-of-seven series, whose seventh game - if needed - will be played on Sunday 5 May.

The winners of the first-round playoff series will move on to a conference semi-final against No. 1 seed the Boston Celtics or No. 8 seed the Miami Heat.

Cavaliers vs Magic: full schedule

Game 1: Magic @ Cavaliers

Saturday, April 20 (1pm ET, ESPN)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

Game 2: Magic @ Cavaliers

Monday, April 22 (7pm ET, NBA TV)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

Game 3: Cavaliers @ Magic

Thursday, April 25 (7pm ET, NBA TV)
Kia Center, Orlando, FL

Game 4: Cavaliers @ Magic

Saturday, April 27 (1pm ET, TNT)
Kia Center, Orlando, FL

Game 5: Magic @ Cavaliers

Tuesday, April 30 (TBD, TBD)*
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

Game 6: Cavaliers @ Magic

Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)*
Kia Center, Orlando, FL

Game 7: Magic @ Cavaliers

Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)*
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH

What are Cleveland and Orlando’s playoff records?

After winning four successive Conference titles in the LeBron James era between 2015 and 2018, a period in which they also won their only NBA championship (2016), the Cavs missed the playoffs for four years running after James’ departure to the LA Lakers.

they might've forgotten, but we didn't...
WE GOT THEM DAWGS IN CLEVELAND.

see you tomorrow. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Ha8TZAMd0x
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 20, 2024

Jaime Jáquez Jr. and the Miami Heat first-round playoff schedule

NBA

NBA Playoff schedule confirmed

They returned in 2023 but comfortably lost in the first round to the New York Knicks (4-1).

This will be only the third time the Magic play in the NBA playoffs since 2012. Orlando, who have never won an NBA championship, haven’t got beyond the first round since 2010, when they lost in the Eastern Conference final to the Boston Celtics.