Current:Home > ContactCavaliers rally past Magic for first playoff series win since 2018 with LeBron James -Nova Finance Academy
Cavaliers rally past Magic for first playoff series win since 2018 with LeBron James
View
Date:2025-04-14 04:18:36
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers are shipping up to Boston.
The Cavs completed a wild comeback and beat the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7 of their opening-round series Sunday afternoon at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Cavs at one point in the first half trailed by 18 points but pulled off a furious comeback to oust the Magic from the playoffs.
It was the first playoff series win for the Cavaliers since 2018, and the first without LeBron James on the roster in three decades.
The Cavaliers advance to play the No. 1-seeded Boston Celtics in the second round. Game 1 is set for Tuesday night in Boston. The Celtics took down the No. 8 Miami Heat in five games in their opening series.
The Cavaliers had trouble with third quarters all series, but turned that around in a big way Sunday in what was the key stretch with their playoff lives on the line.
After a brutal offensive first half in which the Cavs scored only 43 points and couldn't buy a shot from 3-point range, Donovan Mitchell led the charge out of halftime as the Cavaliers overpowered the Magic in the third quarter, out-scoring Orlando 33-15 and sending Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse into a frenzy.
Mitchell scored 17 points in the third quarter alone as the Cavs chipped away at the Magic's lead. Mitchell was aided by Max Strus, who went scoreless in the first half but then poured in 11 points in the third quarter, including back-to-back 3s as the Cavs not only erased their double-digit deficit but blew past the Magic to take an eight-point lead heading into the final 12 minutes.
Darius Garland had a quiet first half, committing more fouls (three) than points scored (two). He was just 1-of-9 shooting from the floor, but he also hit perhaps the shot that was the beginning of the end for the Magic. With just under half a quarter remaining, Garland missed a corner 3, but Isaac Okoro grabbed the offensive rebound and passed to Mitchell, who found Garland in the same spot, and this time he drilled it to put the Cavs up 88-77.
Later, Garland came away with a steal, hit a jumper and grabbed a defensive rebound within a few seconds of each other, a stretch that gave the Cavs a 96-85 lead with two and a half minutes remaining.
Mitchell finished with a game-high 39 points one game after dropping 50 in Game 6.
Evan Mobley, who started at center with Jarrett Allen again out with bruised ribs, had 11 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots.
As the clock wound down, Cavs fans began a "We want Boston!" chant. The Cavs will get the Celtics Tuesday night.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis.
veryGood! (68)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Russian court rejects appeal of Evan Gershkovich, Wall Street Journal reporter held on spying charges
- Heidi Klum Wows in Yellow Dress at Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars 2023 Party
- North Korea tests ballistic missile that might be new type using solid fuel, South Korea says
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Lady Gaga Channels A Star Is Born's Ally With Stripped-Down Oscars Performance
- The European Union Wants A Universal Charger For Cellphones And Other Devices
- More than 1 in 3 rural Black southerners lack home internet access, a new study finds
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Memes about COVID-19 helped us cope with life in a pandemic, a new study finds
Ranking
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- 3 Former U.S. Intelligence Operatives Admit Hacking For United Arab Emirates
- Family of Paul Whelan says his resilience is shaken as he awaits release in Russia
- Halle Bailey Proves She's a Disney Princess in Jaw-Dropping Oscars 2023 Gown
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- What The Ruling In The Epic Games V. Apple Lawsuit Means For iPhone Users
- Biden touts economic growth in Northern Ireland speech: Your future is America's future
- Xbox mini fridges started as a meme. Now they're real, and all sold out
Recommendation
Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
Facebook is now revealing how often users see bullying or harassing posts
There's an app to help prove vax status, but experts say choose wisely
The hidden costs of holiday consumerism
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Nicole Kidman's All-Black Oscars 2023 Look Just May Be Our Undoing
Biden travel documents found on street in Northern Ireland
How the 'Stop the Steal' movement outwitted Facebook ahead of the Jan. 6 insurrection