NBA playoffs: Magic overcome Mitchell's 50 points to force Game 7; Mavs to face Thunder
Orlando, Fla. — Paolo Banchero and the rapidly maturing Orlando Magic are growing up fast in the NBA playoffs.
The 21-year-old All-Star forward scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter Friday night, helping one of the NBA's youngest teams overcome Donovan Mitchell's 50 points and hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96 to force a decisive Game 7 in their first-round playoff series.
Three nights after scoring a career postseason-best 39 on 14-of-24 shooting in a one-point road loss that left the Magic on the brink of elimination, Banchero put his team on his back and carried them to their biggest win in years.
Franz Wagner (Michigan) had 26 points and Jalen Suggs made six 3-pointers and finished with 22 for the Magic, who pulled away in the closing minutes, with Banchero hitting a 3-pointer that put Orlando ahead for good at 92-89.
“We’ve definitely learned a lot through this series, seeing what works and what doesn’t work,” Banchero said. “Knowing what we have to do to win a game.”
Mitchell was magnificent for Cleveland, scoring all of his team's 18 points in the fourth quarter. Darius Garland finished with 21, but ultimately the Cavs were unable to overcome poor 3-point shooting (7 of 28).
Game 7 is Sunday in Cleveland, where the Cavs won Games 1, 2 and 5 and clearly play better than on the road, where they've dropped seven straight playoff games dating to a LeBron James-led Game 7 victory at Boston in the 2018 Eastern Conference finals.
“I’m excited. It’s a do-or-die situation, so we’ll have to put together another special effort,” Banchero said, looking ahead to Sunday.
The Cavs haven't won a postseason series since then. The Magic, in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, are seeking their first series win in 14 years.
“Our guys will be ready for the moment,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’ve been really good at home and we don’t expect that to change.”
Orlando improved from 22 wins in 2021-22, its first season under coach Jamahl Mosley, to 34 last year and 47 with a Southeast Division title this season.
“Being on the road for Game 7, the ability to come together and continue to grow each game, I think that’s what this group is looking forward to,” Mosley added. “It’s not going to be easy, nor do we want it to be easy. The harder it is, the better we will be.”
(At) Dallas 114, L.A. Clippers 101: Luka Doncic struggled with his shot again thanks to his ailing right knee, and Kyrie Irving spent a bunch of energy playing defense.
Through all that, the co-stars of the Mavericks tag-teamed for a second-half surge that sent Dallas to the second round in their first postseason together.
Doncic had 28 points and 13 assists, Irving scored 28 of his 30 points after halftime and the Mavericks finished off the Los Angeles Clippers with a 114-101 victory Friday night.
With Irving alongside him this time, Doncic did what the Slovenian superstar couldn't three years earlier – close out the Clippers in Dallas in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series.
The fifth-seeded Mavericks beat the Clippers for the the first time in three first-round tries over the past five seasons and will open the Western Conference semifinals at the top seed, Oklahoma City, on Tuesday night.
“We’re pushing each other off the court to be better, and then when we get on the court it’s just like synchronicity,” Irving said. “It feels good.”
Paul George had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who won the first two times they played without Kawhi Leonard in the series but didn't have enough scoring punch in the last two he was sidelined by right knee inflammation.
James Harden had 16 points and 13 assists but was just 5 of 16 from the field and missed all six of his 3-pointers as LA was eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive season despite the early-season trade for the 10-time All-Star.
“A lot of emotions and things going through my mind right now,” Harden said.
Eastern Conference
Milwaukee vs. Indiana
(Indiana wins 4-2)
▶ Game 1: Milwaukee 109-94
▶ Game 2: Indiana 125-108
▶ Game 3: Indiana 121-118 (OT)
▶ Game 4: Indiana 126-113
▶ Game 5: Milwaukee 115-92
▶ Game 6: Indiana 120-98
Boston vs. Miami
(Celtics win 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Boston 114, Miami 94
▶ Game 2: Miami 111, Boston 101
▶ Game 3: Boston 104, Miami 84
▶ Game 4: Boston 102, Miami 88
▶ Game 5: Boston 118-84
Cleveland vs. Orlando
(Series tied 3-3)
▶ Game 1: Cleveland 97-83
▶ Game 2: Cleveland 96-86
▶ Game 3: Orlando 121-83
▶ Game 4: Orlando 112-89
▶ Game 5: Cleveland 104-103
▶ Game 6: Orlando 103-96
▶ Game 7: Sunday @ Cleveland, 1
New York vs. Philadelphia
(Knicks win 4-2)
▶ Game 1: New York 111-104
▶ Game 2: New York 104-101
▶ Game 3: Philadelphia 125-114
▶ Game 4: New York 97-92
▶ Game 5: Philadelphia 112-106
▶ Game 6: New York 118-115
Western Conference
L.A. Clippers vs. Dallas
(Mavs win series 4-2)
▶ Game 1: L.A. Clippers 109-97
▶ Game 2: Dallas 96-93
▶ Game 3: Dallas 101-90
▶ Game 4: L.A. Clippers 116-111
▶ Game 5: Dallas 123-93
▶ Game 6: Dallas 114-101
Denver vs. L.A. Lakers
(Nuggets win 4-1)
▶ Game 1: Denver 114-103
▶ Game 2: Denver 101-99
▶ Game 3: Denver 112-105
▶ Game 4: L.A. Lakers 119-108
▶ Game 5: Denver 108-106
Oklahoma City vs. New Orleans
(Thunder wins 4-0)
▶ Game 1: Oklahoma City 94-92
▶ Game 2: Oklahoma City 124-92
▶ Game 3: Oklahoma City 106-85
▶ Game 4: Oklahomas City 97-89
Minnesota vs. Phoenix
(Timberwolves win 4-0)
▶ Game 1: Minnesota 120-95
▶ Game 2: Minnesota 105-93
▶ Game 3: Minnesota 126-109
▶ Game 4: Minnesota 122-116
Second round
Eastern Conference
New York vs. Indiana
▶ Game 1: Monday @ New York, 7:30
▶ Game 2: Wednesday @ New York, 8
▶ Game 3: Friday @ Indiana, 7
▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Indiana, 3:30
▶ Game 5: TBA
▶ Game 6: TBA
▶ Game 7: TBA
Western Conference
Denver vs. Minnesota
▶ Game 1: Saturday @ Denver, 7
▶ Game 2: Monday @ Denver, TBA
▶ Game 3: Friday @ Minnesota, TBA
▶ Game 4: Sunday @ Minnesota, TBA
▶ Game 5: Tuesday, May 14 @ Denver, TBA
▶ Game 6: Thursday, May 16 @ Minnesota, TBA
▶ Game 7: Sunday, May 19 @ Denver, TBA
Dallas vs. Oklahoma City
▶ Game 1: Tuesday @ Oklahoma City, 9:30
▶ Game 2: Thursday @ Oklahoma City, 9:30
▶ Game 3: Saturday @ Dallas, 3:30
▶ Game 4: Monday @ 9:30
▶ Game 5: May 15 @ Oklahoma City, TBA
▶ Game 6: May 18 @ Dallas, TBA
▶ Game 7: May 20 @ Oklahoma City, TBA