Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers storm back to oust Magic in Game 7

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell introduced the basketball up the courtroom early within the third quarter of Recreation 7 in opposition to the Orlando Magic.

His staff was amid a ferocious comeback after trailing by as a lot as 18 factors within the first half. Mitchell took three dribbles after he crossed half courtroom to place himself on the prime of the 3-point arc and launched a 26-foot shot.

That basket reduce their deficit to 4. It swung the momentum again clearly to their facet, and the Cavs rode the wave to their eventual 106-94 win — pushing them into the Jap Convention semifinals for the primary time since 2019. It is their first time making it to the second spherical with out LeBron James in 30 years.

Coming off of his 50-point sport in Recreation 6, Mitchell scored 39 factors in Recreation 7. His 89 factors over the ultimate two video games of the sequence are the second most in Video games 6 and seven in NBA historical past, trailing solely Allen Iverson’s 90 in 2001.

“I am bored with shedding within the first spherical,” Mitchell stated. “You’re employed too onerous. We work too onerous. That was my mindset … for me, simply be in assault mode. I am battling via what I am battling via, however I might battle via it and determine it out, or rehab it for the following three or 4 months. That is the place I am at mentally.”

Mitchell has been laboring via a knee harm, the identical one which’s lingered all season. All through the sport, he hobbled round, grimaced and fought in opposition to his physique. However, in his eyes, he had no selection.

All through many of the first half, Mitchell struggled. He had 15 factors and was simply 1-of-7 with Jalen Suggs as his major defender.

From halfway via the second quarter till the top of the third, nevertheless, Mitchell outscored the Magic 20-19 on his personal. All however six of his factors — 9 of his 11 subject targets made — have been within the paint.

“He is a competitor,” Darius Garland stated. “He is a go-getter. He is a winner — that is all he talks about. He needs us to recover from this hump. He’ll do something doable to get us over it.”

After falling behind early, the Cavs remained assured. Mitchell stated he was glad Orlando went on its run early as a result of that gave Cleveland time to mount a rebuttal. Within the closing minutes of the second half, the Cavs’ climb again into the sport was sluggish and gritty.

Within the locker room at halftime, the message being unfold was to stay even-kneeled. Then within the third quarter, the Cavs lastly put collectively their run. It began with Mitchell’s 3.

Cleveland’s 18-point comeback is the most important in a Recreation 7 since a minimum of 1997. After the Magic went up 47-29 with 5:10 to go within the second quarter, the Cavs outscored them by 30 via the remainder of the sport, taking pictures 57% from the sphere whereas holding Orlando to 27%.

After Recreation 6, the Cavaliers emphasised the necessity to present Mitchell some assist. In Orlando, he was the one Cleveland participant to attain within the closing 14 minutes of the sport. The Cavs knew that could not be the case in Recreation 7.

“[Mitchell is] the man that may pull everyone alongside, not simply together with his ability however in spirit as nicely,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated. “While you see your teammate, a man you care about taking part in that manner, you do not wish to let that man down so that you exit and do no matter you’ll be able to to assist that man.

“We speak about how everyone has their type and their piece of management right here and that is how Don leads, by being particular within the second. His teammates wish to be part of it.”

A number of instances all through the sport, Mitchell put his arms round his teammates on the bench whereas yelling of their ears. He huddled the group up throughout stoppage when he was on the courtroom. He bear-hugged and celebrated them after they hit a shot or made a cease.

Caris LeVert completed with 15 factors, Max Strus bought 13 and Garland had 12. Evan Mobley bought 11 factors, 16 rebounds and 5 blocks and held Orlando to 6-of-22 taking pictures as the first contester.

“That is all the time positively a particular second for this group, specifically, who has been via a lot this yr — who’s been left for lifeless a number of instances by lots of people,” Bickerstaff stated. “For them to return collectively on this second and determine it out … we’re most happy with that, however we’re not executed but.”

That “not executed but” mindset is shared by each Cavaliers participant as they make a fast turnaround to face the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

Rinsing the nasty style from their mouths due to how their quick playoff run ended final yr was simply part of the staff’s total objective this season.

“We did not make the group we made simply to return in and win the primary spherical,” Mitchell stated. “We achieved one objective, now we now have to do it once more. That is the mindset. … After they traded for me, it wasn’t simply to win a first-round sequence, it was to proceed to push and transfer ahead. And I feel that is the place all of our heads are at.”

Info from ESPN Stats 7 Info was used on this report.