Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers spent the past week asserting their readiness for this year’s playoffs. Come Saturday, they proved it on the court.
Mitchell tallied 30 points, while Jarrett Allen dominated the boards with 18 rebounds as the Cavs exhibited a tougher demeanor—both mentally and physically than in last year’s disappointing postseason, securing a 97-83 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
“Last year is behind us,” Mitchell affirmed. “We’ve moved on. This is our identity now, and this is the standard we set for ourselves.”
Evan Mobley contributed 16 points, with Darius Garland chipping in 14 for Cleveland, a squad haunted by the memory of a swift playoff exit at the hands of the New York Knicks in 2023, succumbing in just five games.
The scars of that experience lingered, propelling the Cavs into this postseason with heightened confidence, bolstered depth (on paper, at least), and relatively improved health following a regular season marred by injuries.
Although slowed by a left knee bone bruise for the past two months, Mitchell showcased glimpses of his All-Star caliber, emerging as Cleveland’s primary offensive threat for over two quarters.
His first-half dunk off a loose ball signaled his return to form, hinting at a more formidable Cavs presence in his second postseason stint with the team.
Meanwhile, Orlando’s Paolo Banchero made an impressive playoff debut, netting 24 points but struggling with nine turnovers. The Magic’s shooting woes, compounded by Cleveland’s staunch defense, limited them to a dismal 33% from the field.
Game 2 awaits on Monday at the electric Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where fans endured a lackluster postseason showing last spring, cut short by the Knicks.
Despite Mitchell’s admission of a mere two hours of sleep due to nerves and the early tip-off, he swiftly transitioned into playoff mode upon hearing Phil Collins’ resonant anthem, “In The Air Tonight,” blaring through the arena.
Much like the Cavs a year prior, the Magic’s lack of playoff experience became evident in their disjointed offense, with Banchero often forcing plays, shooting 9 of 17 from the floor in 41 minutes.
While the Cavs maintained control for most of the game, they faced a drought of seven field goals over 18 minutes, clinging to a narrow 60-56 lead until Mitchell’s pivotal back-to-back buckets sparked a decisive 13-2 run to close the third quarter, entering the final stretch with a commanding 15-point advantage.
Although the Magic managed to trim a 20-point deficit to nine in the fourth quarter, the Cavs promptly responded, with Mitchell’s timely 3-pointer effectively quashing any hopes of an Orlando comeback.
Tensions flared in the second quarter, leading to heated exchanges and two technical fouls. Orlando’s Moritz Wagner’s push on an off-balance Mobley and subsequent clapping irked Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro, resulting in a technical. Moments later, Markelle Fultz’s foul on Georges Niang earned a flagrant-1, further escalating the intensity as the arena reverberated with excitement.
As a reminder of their unwavering resolve, Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” played over the sound system during the review of Fultz’s foul, encapsulating the Cavs’ resolute spirit.
