Cavaliers Surpass the Magic in Game One
Yesterday afternoon in Cleveland, the fourth-seeded Cavaliers took on the fifth-seeded Orlando Magic in the first official game of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. This was the first playoff game for the Magic since the 2019-2020 season. Cleveland took an early lead, and never looked back as they took a 97-83 Game One victory over Orlando. The Cavs are looking to make this a quick and easy series as they hope to forget their first-round exit in last year’s playoffs.
Although the Magic trailed by seven after the first quarter, the Cavs shot red-hot in the first 12 minutes of action. They shot 57 percent from the field, and 50 percent from beyond the arc. Orlando could not come up big in the second, they went five for 20 from the floor and missed all seven of their attempts from three. The Magic accumulated just 15 points and trailed by 12 heading into the locker room. Evan Mobley led all scorers at the half with 16 points, along with recording three rebounds, an assist, and a block. Donovan Mitchell had 14 points on five of nine shooting. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 11 points.
Orlando did everything they could to come back in the third quarter. They brought their deficit to just four points with less than five and a half minutes remaining in the third. However, the Cavaliers continued their dominance and would take a 15-point lead with one quarter remaining. Cleveland held a double-digit lead for most of the fourth quarter and would take a 14-point win over the young inexperienced Orlando Magic. Throughout this game, the Magic shot just 33 percent from the floor, and 22 percent from deep. Orlando was outrebounded by 14 rebounds in this loss.
Donovan Mitchell finished the game with 30 points, two rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Jarrett Allen was huge on the glass pouring in 16 points with 18 rebounds in the win. Paolo Benchero scored 24 points, along with grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Franz Wagner recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal, and three blocks in the loss.
