Final Score: Cleveland Cavaliers capture 97-83 victory over Orlando Magic

Cavs lead the series 1-0.

It was a much-needed postseason win for the Cleveland Cavaliers who took the first step towards redemption in a 97-83 win over the Orlando Magic.

Nightly Notables

Winning in the NBA playoffs can come down to having the best player on the floor. For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell delivered on this theory. Mitchell was electric, scoring a game-high 30 points and sending Rocket Mortage Fieldhouse into a frenzy with a steal and slam in the first quarter.

Mitchell punished Orlando for switching slower defenders onto him throughout the game. His control of Cleveland’s pace helped them build a strong enough lead to survive the inevitable cold spells that came against the Magic’s gritty defense.

Evan Mobley played a role in getting this all started. He nailed two three-pointers in the opening quarter and scored all 16 of his points in the first half. His frontcourt running mate, Jarrett Allen, is ignoring the bright lights this time with 16 points and 18 rebounds in a superb effort.

All around, Cleveland’s energy from the opening tip should have everyone feeling optimistic. The grit and grind that was missing last season was on full display in this win. Georges Niang and Isaac Okoro picked up early technical fouls that helped set the tone and signal to the Magic that they weren’t going to back down from a battle.

Well, that happened...

The box score doesn’t do Niang justice in this game. While he finished with just 5 points on 1-7 shooting, Niang’s physicality and effectiveness on defense helped the Cavaliers build momentum. He more than held his own in isolation and finished alongside Mitchell as a game-high +13.

Big Picture

It’s only one game. Yet, it’s hard not to feel great about how Cleveland performed. With last season’s collapse looming over their heads, there is no overstating how important it was to get off the blocks quickly in this series.

The Cavs led for 48 minutes. At one point, they led by 20 points. Even when the Magic dared to pull within striking distance — composure held steady and the Cavaliers closed the deal comfortably.

Next game will pose new challenges. We can expect the Magic to make adjustments and it will be on the Cavaliers to put their foot down and claim a 2-0 series lead.