Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers spent the week saying they were more prepared for this year’s playoffs. On Saturday, they showed it.
Mitchell scored 30 points, Jarrett Allen grabbed 18 rebounds, and the Cavs appeared mentally and physically stronger than last year, defeating the Orlando Magic 97-83 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
“We’ve moved on from last year,” Mitchell said. “That’s in the past. This is who we are now, and this is how we want to play.”
Evan Mobley contributed 16 points, and Darius Garland added 14 for Cleveland. Last year, the Cavs were outplayed by the New York Knicks in just five games in the playoffs, leaving a lasting impact on the team.
This season, the Cavs entered the playoffs with more confidence, depth, and relatively fewer injuries after a regular season marked by setbacks.
Mitchell had been dealing with a left knee injury for the past two months, but he looked much improved, serving as Cleveland’s primary offensive threat for most of the game.
In the first half, Mitchell’s powerful dunk signaled his return and hinted at a stronger showing for the Cavs in his second postseason with the team.
Orlando’s Paolo Banchero scored 24 points in his playoff debut but struggled with nine turnovers. The Magic’s shooting woes, combined with Cleveland’s strong defense, led to their low field goal percentage.
“We didn’t score enough,” Banchero admitted. “We missed a lot of free throws and couldn’t make our 3-pointers. There’s a lot we could have done better.”
Game 2 will take place on Monday at the energetic Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, where Mitchell, despite a disrupted pregame routine, quickly got into playoff mode with the help of some pregame music.
“He’s ready for these big moments,” said Cavs coach J.B. Bickestaff. “He knows the importance of starting strong, whether it’s in Game 1 or any crucial game.”
