CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points, Caris LeVert added 15 and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to advance to the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 106-94 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 7 on Sunday. and avoided a potentially franchise-altering loss.
The Cavs trailed by 18 points at the half and were on the verge of being eliminated in the first round for the second year in a row, a scenario that could have led to him being fired.
But Mitchell, who scored 50 points in a Game 6 loss to Orlando and has been battling a left knee injury for months, put the Cavs on their back. He overtook an up-and-coming Orlando team that showed its lack of playoff experience in the second half.
Evan Mobley grabbed 16 rebounds and Darius Garland hit a decisive 3-pointer in the fourth for Cleveland, which won its first playoff series without LeBron James since 1993.
The Cavs will play Game 1 on Tuesday against the top-seeded and well-rested Boston Celtics in the second round.
In the final minutes of the game, a member of the Cleveland towel-waving crowd chanted, “We want Boston!” — an unlikely matchup an hour ago.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 38 points (only 14 after halftime) and added 16 rebounds. The Magic improved in the series, but had no idea how to win in Cleveland as both teams kept their serve on the floor.
Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs made 3-of-28 field goals.
Trailing by 10 points at halftime, Cleveland stepped up its defense in the third quarter and defeated Orlando 33-15. During this period, the Magic made just 4 of 24 field goals and appeared hesitant while waiting for Banchero to do more.
The Cavs led 85-77 in the fourth set. Garland showed frustration early in the first half before receiving encouragement from Mitchell, but sank a 3-pointer from the corner to give Cleveland an 11-point lead.
After the shot fell and Orlando called a timeout, a relieved Garland hugged Mitchell. Mitchell was acquired in a trade from Utah two years ago in hopes of bringing Cleveland closer to a championship again.
The Cavs took a new step with him.
Cleveland was once again without starting center Jarrett Allen, who missed the final three games of the series with a rib injury caused by Magic’s elbow.
Before the injury, Allen was Cleveland’s most consistent player against the Magic, grabbing 20 rebounds in Game 2 while at least providing a defensive presence underneath the Cavaliers to thwart Orlando’s drives. Ta.
The Magic, led by the 21-year-old Banchero, had won just 22 games before drafting him with the No. 1 overall pick two years ago, but trailed 2-0 in the series with 24 minutes remaining.
But it wasn’t enough for Orlando, or Mitchell.
Whenever the Cavs needed a big play, the All-Star guard made a big play. Whenever a teammate needed support, he was there. And by scoring 89 points in his final two games, Mitchell may have finally silenced the critics who said he couldn’t even close in the playoffs.
The Cavs trailed by 18 points at the half and it looked like early summer was coming.
But with LeVert and Sam Merrill providing the spark, Cleveland was able to cut into Orlando’s lead. Cleveland missed his first nine 3-pointers and fell to 47-39.
LeVert, who had been slowed by a knee injury, attacked the basket and scored on two drives, and Merrill hit his second 3-pointer as the Cavs, who started 0-for-9 on 3-pointers, made their final nine shots. They made seven of them and got within 53 points. -43 at halftime.
The offensive woes that plagued Cleveland in the fourth quarter of Game 6 — when Mitchell scored all 18 of the Cavaliers’ points — carried over.
There were too many standouts, bad shots and turnovers, and when the Magic hit 13 in a row to open a 10-point lead, the Cleveland crowd let the Cavs know that with more than just a few boos.
But in the end, all was forgotten as Mitchell dribbled through the final seconds.
