With a maximum of 18 points behind, Cavaliers completed a desperate counterattack and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a hearty victory. Mitchell scored 89 points in the last two games, leading the Cavaliers to establish a new era. On May 6, 2024, Beijing time, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-94. Mitchell had 39 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, and Banqueiro had 38 points and 16 rebounds.
In the last game, Mitchell scored 50 points, but still could not prevent the Magic from winning at home, which eventually led to the team falling into a tiebreaker situation. Now back at home, Mitchell obviously needs to lead the Cavaliers to play a tenacious game and show real leadership. From the beginning of the game, Mitchell held the ball and attacked the basket to score 2 points, showing his winning ability. Then he made two free throws through a breakthrough and caused a foul. The Magic also hope to take advantage of the opening period to quickly gain an advantage. Banqueiro, Suggs, and Wagner Jr. are blooming inside and outside, leading the Magic and the Cavaliers into an offensive battle. Banqueiro became the hero of the Magic in the first quarter. He scored 10 points in a single quarter and led the Magic to a 6-point lead.
In this round of the series, although the Cavaliers showed multiple offensive advantages, they did not create too much pressure on the Magic on the defensive end. Seeing the Magic's offensive momentum, the Cavaliers players did not increase their defensive concentration. Instead, they repeatedly missed the Magic's outside shots and were scored by their opponents for 9 points, extending their lead to 15 points in one fell swoop. Even though Mobley counterattacked with a dunk inside, the Cavaliers' offense did not show real continuity and they still played unhurriedly on the defensive end. At most, the Cavaliers were already 18 points behind the Magic. Even though the Cavaliers tried their best to chase points in the second half of the second quarter, they still entered the second half with a 10-point disadvantage.
If the Cavaliers still maintain this state, then they will only hand over the victory to the Magic. As the core leader of the team, Mitchell needs to step up at this time. Mitchell first scored 2 points with a throw under the basket, and then steadily hit a three-pointer from the outside, leading the Cavaliers to start a counterattack. Banqueiro and Wagner Jr. provided some relief on the offensive end, but Mitchell's outburst left the Magic's defense at a loss. With Mitchell scoring 17 points in a single quarter, the Cavaliers achieved a lead in the third quarter and entered the fourth quarter with an 8-point lead.
Fultz's fadeaway mid-range shot narrowed the point difference for the Magic, and Mitchell, who had already found his touch, hit a three-pointer. Seeing the leader regaining his touch, the Cavaliers' role players also began to play. Okoro succeeded in a mid-range shot, LeVert hit a fadeaway jumper, and the two teams once again fell into an anxious battle. Compared to the Magic, the Cavaliers are better focused on the offensive end and their shooting percentage is more stable. As the Cavaliers widened the point difference to double digits, the Magic had no intention of chasing points. In the end, the Cavaliers defeated the Magic at home and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
