Donovan Mitchell helps Cavaliers outclass Magic in opener
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, Jarrett Allen had 16 points and 18 rebounds, and the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series 97-83 at home against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Cleveland scored the first six points of Game 1 and quickly built an 11-point lead, with Evan Mobley scoring eight of his 16 points less than six minutes in. Following their initial start, the Cavaliers never looked back, extending their lead to as many as 20 points.
"Our initial start was a big portion," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of the Cavaliers' ability to pull ahead. "Our group was poised and we were able to fight back. But when you go 19-of-30 from the free-throw line, 8-of-(37) from (3-point range), it's hard to make up ground in those areas."
Orlando stormed back from a 14-point deficit after halftime to pull within four points. Paolo Banchero, who led the team with 24 points, hit a three-pointer to cap a 12-2 run.
Banchero's scoring total tied Shaquille O'Neal for the most by an Orlando player in his debut playoff game. Banchero also grabbed seven rebounds and five assists on Saturday.
Jalen Suggs scored six of his thirteen points during the surge.
Cleveland regained control entering the fourth quarter when Caris LeVert finished the third period with layups while being fouled. He converted one of his two-on-one opportunities, accounting for all five of his points in the game while coming off the bench.
The Cavaliers maintained their lead into the fourth quarter before Orlando rallied to within a single digit margin. Cleveland, however, responded to each Magic comeback push with an outstanding defensive effort.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night in Cleveland.
The Cavaliers limited the Magic to 32.6 percent shooting from the floor (28 of 86), including 8 of 37 from three points.
Allen attributed the defensive intensity in large part to the reserves.
"We wanted to bring the physicality from the beginning," Allen told Bally Sports Cleveland. "Guys like Georges (Niang), guys like Isaac (Okoro), they threw the first punch."
Niang and Okoro both made steals, contributing to the Cavaliers' total of nine, and Okoro blocked a shot. Mobley's double-double performance included 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, tying Orlando's Franz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac for the game-high.
Isaac and Wagner both scored in double figures for the Magic, with 10 and 18 points, respectively, and their defensive play helped give Orlando hope for a comeback. Isaac had three steals to go with his three rejections, while Gary Harris added three more and Suggs swiped two.
The Magic's defence forced Cleveland into a lengthy 3-point shooting drought. After making their first five, the Cavaliers missed 15 consecutive three-pointers from the late first quarter to the third.
Darius Garland broke the cold spell to start the fourth quarter, accounting for a portion of his 14 points. Garland also made eight assists.
Mitchell hit another timely 3-pointer with 4:44 remaining, part of his game-high total, to stymie an Orlando rally and effectively seal the victory.
Mitchell went 3 for 8 from deep and 11 for 21 from the field overall. Mobley went 2-for-4 from three-point range, 6-for-12 from the field overall, and grabbed 11 rebounds. Max Strus, who had seven points, added nine rebounds.
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