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

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).

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.

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 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.