The 2024 NBA Playoffs got underway Saturday afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio. The 4th and 5th seeds in the East did battle as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Orlando Magic in Game 1. The Cavaliers looking to rebound from last year's first-round exit at the hands of the New York Knicks in the 4 vs. 5 seed matchup. The Magic, making the playoffs for the first time since 2020 in the Bubble.
Going into this series the Cavs are the favorites to win but not by much because there is little faith in this Cavs team. The Magic are a new team experiencing playoff basketball for the first time. What an experience they got in the Land. No Magic offense.
The Cleveland Cavaliers came out strong with a 6-0 start before Orlando got on the board. That would how this game will go as the Cavs took a 33-26 lead after the opening quarter. The Magic would cut the lead to down to 4 at the 9-minute mark of the 2nd quarter, then the Cavs would go on a 18-10 run to end the half with a 12-point lead. Then, in the 3rd quarter the Magic would cut the Cavs' lead down the 4 again 53-57 at 5:27 mark and once again the Cavs would response with a 16-5 run to close out the quarter.
From that point forward, the lead would to 20 for the Cavs in the 4th quarter and the Magic couldn't catch up quickly enough, thus the Cavs winning Game 1, 97-83 to take the 1-0 series lead.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavs with 30 points. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley got the Cavs double-doubles. Allen had 16 points and 18 rebounds. Mobley had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
For the Magic, All-Star Forward, Pablo Banchero led the way with 24 points and 7 rebounds, Franz Wagner had 18 points and 7 rebounds. More importantly, the lack of offense from the Magic is the main focus from Game 1. The Magic showed the ability to fight and make runs by cutting a double-digit lead down to 4 twice. However, the ability to stop the Cavs' run with offense of their own doomed the Magic at the end with a 14-point lost.
The Magic were 28-86 from the field which equates to a 32.6 FG%. They shot 8-37 from the three which equates to a 21.6 3PT% and 19-30 from the free-throw line equating to a 63.3 FT%. Meanwhile, the Cavs shot 44.4% from the field and 81% from the free-throw line. They shot similar to the Magic from the three-point line with 26.7%. The offense was not there for Orlando in Game 1 and there was the main concern for the Magic going into these playoffs.
Ranked 24th in the league at 110.5 points per games, you can see why the Magic struggled as they did. However, the Magic are the 4th best defense in the league at giving up only 108.4 points per game.
But for the Magic, they can't shoot like they did in Game 1 and expect to compete in these NBA Playoffs not alone against a beatable Cavaliers team.
Game 2 is Monday night at 7PM on NBATV in Cleveland.