Game Day

Dan Savage

Paolo Banchero spoke to the media after the Orlando Magic's Game 7 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

paolo-banchero-orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-playoffs-game-seven-postgame-interview-20240505

Game 7: Paolo Banchero

Franz Wagner spoke to the media after the Orlando Magic's Game 7 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

franz-wagner-orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-playoffs-game-seven-postgame-interview-20240505

Game 7: Franz Wagner

none

Josh Cohen

CLEVELAND - A tale of two outstanding home-court advantages and a tale of two halves in Game 7. 

They are the narratives that defined the first-round playoff series between the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and fifth-seeded Orlando Magic.&nbsp;

The home team won all seven games and the Cavs, behind another Herculean performance from Donovan Mitchell, erased an 18-point first-half deficit to win the series finale 106-94 and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they will take on the top-seeded Boston Celtics.&nbsp;

Mitchell, a five-time NBA All-Star, was just 3-of-13 from the field prior to intermission, and then like a flip of a switch, he transformed into “Spida,” a nickname given to him by a former teammate’s father for his Spider-man-like attributes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The 6-foot-1, long-armed guard ended up scoring 39 points, 17 coming in the tide-turning third quarter when the Cavs outscored the Magic by 18.&nbsp;

Immediately following the game, he acknowledged just how tough it was to play against the Magic and, after going toe-to-toe against them for seven games, can see why they are widely thought of as one of the best young teams in the league.&nbsp;

“First of all, I want to give to the credit to the Magic, man,” he told ABC’s Lisa Salters. “They’ve got some dawgs over there. Jamahl Mosley is a phenomenal coach. They’ve got some guys (that are really good). Paolo Banchero is going to be a monster. Much respect to them. This wasn’t easy.”&nbsp;

For most of the first half, the Magic were outmuscling and outhustling the Cavs. Their defense, which is their calling card, was smothering, and they were forcing Cleveland into an abundance of heavily-contested shots – both in the paint and on the perimeter.

The other big component of Orlando’s early-game success was the dominant play of Banchero, scored 24 of his 38 points prior to the break. He also finished with 16 rebounds, giving him a pair of double-doubles in the series and three performances of over 30 points.

“Special,” Mosley said of the 21-year-old second-year sensation. “There’s a reason why he’s an All-Star. There’s a reason why he’ll be All-NBA. Big moments, he never shies away from them. Never backed down. (He) wanted every ounce of whatever they were throwing at him…All the things that you’ve asked him to do in these big moments, he did.”&nbsp;

As was the case in each of the other three games in Cleveland, the Magic struggled mightily from 3-point range, going 10-for-31 (32.3 percent) in Sunday’s Game 7. Overall, Orlando shot 33.7 percent from the floor.

The Magic’s supporting cast, which was superb at home but limited on the road throughout the series, didn’t collectively do enough offensively. Franz Wagner, uncharacteristically, went 1-for-15 from the field and finished with just six points. Jalen Suggs, who scored 10, went 2-for-13, with eight of those misses coming from downtown. Orlando’s bench, meanwhile, totaled just 21 points.&nbsp;

The Cavs were without center Jarrett Allen for a third straight game with a right rib contusion. Caris LeVert, who’s been bothered by knee pain, came up big and had 15 points. Evan Mobley’s defense played a huge factor as well.

The Magic are now 2-2 all time in Game 7s. It’s also the third time they’ve been part of a playoff series where the home team won all the games. The others were in the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers and in the first round against the Heat in 1997, which was a best-of-five.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Although the loss is fresh, Mosley, Banchero and the rest of the team realize how much progress they made this season, and believe this playoff series against the Cavs will make them even stronger in the long run.

“After those first two games, everyone was looking at us like, oh I don’t know if they are ready and whatever. For us to take this to seven and then have a great first half (in Game 7), and then have them have to fight for every inch to get back in and beat us,” Banchero said. “It shows where we are headed. It shows what we were able to do this year by itself. It’s really encouraging for everybody – players, coaches, whole organization. We are really going to build off this.”

paolo-banchero-orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-playoffs-game-seven-highlights-night-20240505

Paolo Banchero's 38-Point Effort in Game 7

orlando-magics-season-ends-with-game-7-loss-in-cleveland-20240505

Orlando Magic’s Season Ends With Game 7 Loss in Cleveland

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley spoke to the media after Orlando's Game 7 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

jamahl-mosley-orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-playoffs-game-seven-postgame-interview-20240505

Game 7: Jamahl Mosley

Watch some of the top plays from the Orlando Magic's Game 7 road matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-playoffs-game-seven-highlights-20240505

Game 7 Highlights: Magic at Cavs

Paolo Banchero erupted for 38 points in the Orlando Magic's Game 7 road matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Paolo Banchero attacks the rack and throws it down in Game 7 against the Cavs.

paolo-banchero-orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-playoffs-game-seven-highlights-dunk-20240505

Paolo Banchero's Driving Dunk

Cole Anthony comes up with a big block on one end and follows it with a bucket on the other in Game 7 against the Cavs.

cole-anthony-orlando-magic-cleveland-cavaliers-playoffs-game-seven-highlights-block-bucket-20240505

Cole Anthony Doing It on Both Ends

ticketmaster

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.