Donovan Mitchell and Cavaliers claim Game 1 dogfight over Magic, 97-83

Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley outshined their Orlando cournterparts today in the Game 1 win | David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland grabbed a hold of the lead in the first quarter and put Orlando in a strangehold over the final 36 minutes of play

The Cleveland Cavaliers held the Orlando Magic to a frigid 32% shooting from the field and 21% from three in a dominant Game 1 victory. Donovan Mitchell (30 points and 3 steals) led a balanced Cleveland squad intending to exorcise his personal demons from past playoff runs. Evan Mobley (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Jarrett Allen (16 points, 18 rebounds, and 2 steals) provided the interior presence and support

Paolo Banchero (24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) was the lone star this afternoon from the fledgling Magic. Franz Wagner (18 points and 7 rebounds) and brother Moe Wagner (10 points and 5 rebounds), along with Jalen Suggs (13 points and 4 assists) chipped in during the loss.

Cleveland came out of the gates blazing hot from behind the arc – garnering a 15-0 advantage on threes in the first handful of minutes. Banchero and Franz Wagner steadied Orlando, but they still feel behind by 11. Both teams found some scoring balance in their lineups later in the stanza, but Mitchell and Mobley stood out tallest with their contributions. The Magic’s ability to get to the free throw line kept them in the game, but left the frame down seven.

All the scoring theatrics in the first quarter disappeared for much of the second. The Cleveland bigs, Mobley and Allen, took advantage of mismatches with the smaller Magic frontline to get into double digits. Outside of Banchero, Orlando had trouble matching their counterparts with consistent offense. After a much more muted second period, the Cavaliers went into the half up 53-41.

Despite an extended scoring drought to start the second half for Cleveland, they were able to keep most of their advantage. Jalen Suggs found his scoring touch, but the Magic were unable to get closer than two possession for. much of the frame. Mitchell asserted himself more, as Cleveland’s movement died down on offense. Despite missing their next 15 three point attempts after connecting on their first five, a more ragged third period ended with the Cavaliers up 15.

Observations

The commentators’ microphones cut out from the onset, and it was enjoyable to watch the action for two minutes with just the ambient noise NBA2k-style.
I was just thinking to myself how Magic guard Suggs’ mannerisms resemble Danny Green’s (even down to the jersey number #4)… and then he threw a pass right to a Cavs defender.
During his free throw attempt in the first half, a random fan yelled at Allen, “Your headband isn’t hiding anything!” and Allen cracked a smile..
Cleveland seems to have the market cornered on burly wingmen – Georges Niang and Max Strus. Matt Harpring and Metta World Peace would be proud.
This series has the feeling of one where the deciding game 6 or 7 might be a 79-77 affair.
Strus and Mitchell started the scoring for Cleveland with open threes. Then, Garland added a jumper, and Mobley even connected on two threes of his own to put the Cavaliers up 11. Banchero and Wagner (Franz) were the only Orlando players to respond at the other end. Oft-injured center Jonathan Isaac netted a handful of points to help the Magic cut into the deficit. After Garland went to the bench with two fouls, the Cavaliers ratcheted up their perimeter defense and were able to push the lead up to a dozen. Cleveland left the entertaining period up 33-26.
The high-scoring first quarter devolved into a rock-fight in the second. A blocking foul on Niang was overturned upon review, and the teams failed to score during the first two minutes. Wagner and Isaac Okoro got chippy with each other after a loose ball foul was called on Mobley. Orlando made it briefly a two possession game, but Mobley showed off an improved post-game in scoring three buckets. Niang and Markelle Fultz then got into it after a hard foul by the Magic guard. After putting up a combined 59 points in the first, the combatants combined for only 14 in six minutes. A pair of Allen dunks energized the home crowd, and Cleveland went into the half up a dozen.
The physicality seemed to affect Cleveland to start the third quarter, and Suggs took advantage with six quick points. The hurried pace yielded a viewing experience that looked like a youth soccer match with the Cavaliers scoring two points in six minutes. An Allen dunk mercifully ended the scoring drought, but Banchero’s three point play cut the deficit to four. An awkward floater by Niang pushed Cleveland back up ten. As Orlando’s offense dried up, Caris LeVert converted an acrobatic and-1 to put the Cavaliers up 73-58 after three.
Quick scores by Okoro and Garland to start the fourth put Orlando in an almost insurmountable hole. The Wagner brothers staged a 11-0 Magic run by themselves to slice the lead in half. Cleveland needed buckets from multiple contributors to stave off the Orlando push, with a Mitchelle three putting Orlando back down 14. A difficult bankshot by Suggs was answered by a clutch scoring from Mitchell and Garland, and the Cavaliers ended the Magic comeback bid.

Orlando takes on Cleveland in Game 2 of this playoff series Monday night at 6:00 PM CDT.