Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic, the Cavaliers emerged victorious with a commanding 97-83 win in Game 1. From the opening tip-off, it was clear that the Cavaliers were determined to make a statement and set the tone for the series.
Led by their star player LeBron James, who finished with a game-high 32 points, the Cavaliers showcased their offensive firepower and defensive prowess throughout the game. The Magic struggled to contain James and his teammates, as they executed their game plan flawlessly on both ends of the court.
Mitchell scored 30 points, Jarrett Allen had 18 rebounds and the Cavs looked tougher — mentally and physically — than in last year’s first-round flop, beating the Orlando Magic 97-83 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
“Last year is over with,” Mitchell said. “We flushed that. This is who we are, and this is who we expect to be.”
Darius Garland had 14 for Cleveland, which got bullied and bounced in just five games by the New York Knicks in the 2023 postseason.
The Cavaliers talked all week about making sure last year's embarrassing playoff loss to the Knicks wasn't in vein as they prepared to host the Magic in the first-round of the postseason one year later.
It wasn't just talk. Against an inexperienced Orlando team, Cleveland made a point in coming out as the aggressors in Game One. It paid off, jumping out to a 19-8 lead and never looking back en route to a 97-83 win. They led wire-to-wire and now boast a 1-0 series lead because of it.
Banchero too often tried to force things. He went 9 of 17 from the floor in 41 minutes.
The Cavs have waited all season for a chance at redemption following last season’s first-round flameout.
And while they were in control for most of the game, they had just seven field goals over an 18-minute stretch and only led 60-56 when Banchero converted a three-point play with 4:24 left in the third.
Four starters finished the outing with a double-digit points total. That included 30 points combined from Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, as well as a double-double and 18 rebounds from Jarrett Allen.
Some fans saw Allen's performance as redemption from last postseason, when he struggled during the Cavs' first-round loss to the New York Knicks.
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