On April 23, Beijing time, the first round of the NBA playoffs series G2 began, and the first game was the Cavaliers' home game against the Magic. In the regular season, the Cavaliers have a record of 48-34, ranking fourth in the East, and the Magic are 47-35, ranking fifth in the East. On the contrary, Mitchell has been in the West for so many years, and has become a veteran in the East, scoring 30 points in his first game. To put it simply, the Magic relied on defense + counterattack to create kills this season (No. 1 in the league in free throws per game), but they may pay for this year's playoffs.
The Cavaliers have been plagued by injuries in the regular season this season, including Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley have missed at least 25 games, and they really have a chance to compete for the second place in the East. And the data shows that after the Cavaliers won the playoffs G1 in history, the series achieved a proud record of 17 wins and 1 loss! According to the American media "BR", the probability of the Cavaliers advancing to the second round is 68%, and their real test is in the second round, facing the Celtics! In Mitchell's words, the team's goal is to win in the playoffs and work hard for a year, and they don't want to leave themselves with regrets. Magic starters: Suggs + Gary Harris + Wagner Jr. + Banchero + Isaac.
Cavaliers starters: Garland + Mitchell + Strus + Mobley Jr. + Allen. After the opening, Mitchell threw three points + counterattacked to make kills, Wagner Jr. and Harris singled, Mitchell continued to convert offensive jumpers, and Allen also made kills under the basket. In the second half, the Cavaliers suddenly made a force: Suggs fouled Mitchell, but he injured his knee, Mitchell scored a 3-point + combined Allen dunk, LeVert also continued to make a three-pointer, the Cavaliers played a wave of 16-5 climax, and the Cavaliers led the Magic 30-18 in the first quarter. Coming back in the second quarter, Garland also added three points, but fortunately, the Magic bench, led by Ingles and Carter, played a wave of 10-3 climax to narrow the difference.
In the middle of the Cavaliers, Mitchell's European step layup + Okro's three-point shot + Mobley Jr. against the throw, these three people rushed inside and outside to respond to a wave of 15-5 climax, once opened a 15-point difference! In the second half, Wagner Jr. rained three points to help the Magic chase points, Strus and Mobley Jr. blossomed inside and out, and the Cavaliers led the Magic 58-44 at halftime. Mitchell scored 19 points in the first half, and Ivan scored 17. At the start of the second half, Mobley Jr. ate cake + hit three points, but fortunately, Banchero felt good and repeatedly responded. In the middle of the section, Mobley blew up + Allen went down to the basket, and the two sides remained in a tug-of-war at about 18 points. Banchero and Big Wagner blossomed inside and outside at the end of the quarter, but Garland hit two three-pointers to make the Magic go to waste, and after the third quarter, the Cavaliers led the Magic 80-65.
In the fourth quarter of the decisive battle, Strus's counterattack sprint layup + Garland three-point shot and silky pick-up basket, the Cavaliers led by 22 points! Banchero continued to chase points singlely, Big Wagner dunked Allen in the middle section, Harris completed 3+1 in the bottom corner, Magic played a wave of 13-0, chasing all the way to only 9 points, and an old spectator on the sidelines was hit by Dawa and fell directly to the ground, which looked a little serious, and medical staff hurried into the court for treatment. In the last 5 minutes, it was Mitchell who named Banchero to throw to stop the bleeding, and then the Magic shot consecutive irons, and Allen's free throws sealed the victory! In the end, the Cavaliers defeated the Magic 96-86, and the series led 2-0!
Magic statistics, Banchero 21 points and 6 turnovers, Wagner Jr. 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 turnovers, Gary Harris 14 points and 4 rebounds, Sugs 9 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, Big Wagner 12 points, 6 rebounds and 6 fouls. Cavaliers statistics, Mitchell 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, Allen 16 points, 20 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, Mobley Jr. 17 points and 7 rebounds, Garland 15 points and 4 assists, Okro 10 points and 4 steals, LeVert 8 points.
Throughout the game, the gap between the Magic and the Cavaliers is obvious, the playoff confrontation scale, the defense is almost the same, the Magic has no offensive strength, Xiaowa and Banchero's singles are accompanied by a lot of mistakes, and the bench loses points as soon as they come on the court. On the Cavaliers' side, after Mitchell stabilized the situation in the first half, Garland + Allen + Mobley Jr. blossomed more in the second half. In the final analysis, in front of the Cavaliers, the Magic players are still young and impactful, but they are not able to withstand pressure. This set of matchups is likely to be the fastest series to end in the first round.