The Cleveland star scores 39 and gives Cleveland the Conference semifinal. Banchero scores 38 points, but disappears at the key moment
5 May 2024 (modified 6 May 2024 | 00:10) – MILAN
Donovan Mitchell is Cleveland’s lifesaver, dragging the Cavaliers to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The 27-year-old guard scores 39 points, the Cavs recover from -18 and in Game 7 at home they beat Orlando 106-94, closing the series 4-3 and earning the crossing with Boston. Game 1 at the Garden, home of the Celtics, is scheduled from 1am in Italy between Tuesday and Wednesday. Orlando goes on vacation after an excellent season. Collapses at its best in the second half, paying for inexperience. The Magic parable is represented by their best scorer, Paolo Banchero, who scores 38 points: he enchants in the first 24′, but fails in the second half of the game.
THE MERITS OF CAVS
—
Cleveland had chosen its playoff opponent by losing the last regular season game at home against Charlotte with the reserves on the field. Well, in hindsight the choice turns out to be right. Wins his first playoff series in 6 years. But what an effort…The number 4 seed in the Eastern Conference takes advantage of the home court advantage, gained by winning just one game more than its opponent in the regular season, 48 times against 47, and “holds serve” in front of its audience for the fourth time in as many attempts against Orlando, in a series in which the home team has always had the final say. Mitchell picks up the Cavs when they were already down and seemed one step away from knockout. He is a basketball machine, he had scored 50 points in Game 6, yet they weren’t enough then. This time he is given a hand by a good LeVert from the bench and Mobley who defends strongly, in the absence of Jarrett Allen. Little else. Coach Bickerstaff’s attack is thrilling, with even the “boiled” Marcus Morris and Tristan Thompson in the rotation.
THE DEMERITS OF MAGIC
—
Orlando’s season was a revelation. And it remains excellent. The icing on the cake was missing. He was already at the center of the table after the first 24 minutes played in Ohio, but Coach Mosley’s attack short-circuited. Franz Wagner gets the wrong day to shoot 1/15 from the field, the absence of an adequate director is felt. Banchero rages in the first half, too big for Okoro, feasting on the line, but then he disjoins, becomes clumsy: 38 points, yes, but 10/28 from the field and 5 turnovers against 2 assists. He is only 21 years old, he will make up for it.
ALLEN’S INJURY
—
Jarrett Allen, the 26-year-old defensive center of the Cavs, who averages 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, had withdrawn less than an hour before the opener at the start of the game. The injury is officially a rib contusion, for which he missed the third consecutive match. We have never seen anyone in NBA history miss crucial games in the playoffs due to a rib contusion, so either the Cavaliers are telling fiascos about the real physical problem of their big man, or there is a void in the script that is currently mysterious. The Cavaliers need to get him back even just to be competitive against the Celtics.
ORLANDO STRONG PART
—
Harris recovered, in the starting lineup for the Magic. Okoro among the Cavs’ top 5 in place of Allen. 24-18 Orlando after the first 12 minutes of the game. Banchero with 10 points, Mitchell 8. Then 33-18 for the guests, the Cavs shoot 6/29 from the field, they risk breaking the rims of the baskets by hitting them in every possible way and they add 6 turnovers on the side, compared to 2 assist. Thanks to these figures, Orlando goes up +18, but a 9-0 run by the Cavs, with LeVert and Merrill providential from the bench, allows the hosts to limit the damage at half-time. 53-43 Orlando after 24′. Banchero has 24 points (10/10 from the foul line), already 15 for Mitchell.
RIMONTA CAVS
—
Mitchell scores 17 points in the 3rd quarter and ties the score at 64. LeVert, who continues to play well, scores the free throws for Cleveland’s first lead since -18, at 66-64. A couple of triples in a row from Max Strus are even worth his lead, with Orlando’s attack going haywire. Franz Wagner never scores a basket, Banchero suddenly gets into a fight with us. Combined, they shoot 1/13 in the 3rd period. 76-68 Cleveland after 36′, with the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse crowd “entering the game”. And the game suddenly becomes downhill for the Cavs. In fact, the Magic go down with the first punch they suffer. Mitchell is a bogeyman and even a terrible Garland “wakes up”. Cleveland wins the game and the series and savors the taste of triumph in a Game 7 in front of its fans. Sweet, very sweet.
Cleveland: Mitchell 39 (9/19, 2/8, 15/17 t.l.) LeVert 15, Strus 13. Rimbalzi: Mobley 16. Assist: Mitchell 5.
Orlando: Banchero 38 (7/22, 3/6, 15/18 tl), Carter 13, Suggs 10. Rimbalzi: Banchero 16. Assists: F. Wagner 6.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED