Even after sliding down the standings when the regular season ended, the Cleveland Cavaliers still have what it takes to go deep in the playoffs. And if All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell is to be believed, the Cavs are just getting started.
In a recent game between Cleveland and the Paolo Banchero-led Orlando Magic, the Wine and Gold went home with the 97-83 win to draw first blood in the series. Mitchell stepped up by dropping 30 points on 52 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from deep. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley had big games with 16 points each, with the former grabbing 18 rebounds and the latter getting 11 boards. Darius Garland added 14 points and eight assists.
The Magic, on the other hand, had Banchero post 24 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Franz Wagner contributed 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Jalen Suggs tallied 13 points in an inefficient 25 percent field goal shooting night from the guard.
The win gave Cleveland the lead over Orlando in the series and cementing Mitchell as a player to look out for. The loss, however, is a baptism of fire for a young Magic squad led by Banchero.
Donovan Mitchell Hypes Up Fans With Bold Declaration After Cleveland Cavaliers Win Over Orlando Magic
After the game, Mitchell spoke to reporters and shared his thoughts about the Cavaliers’ win over the Magic. In an article posted by Tom Withers for ABC News:
“Last year is over with,” Mitchell said. “We flushed that. This is who we are, and this is who we expect to be,” Withers wrote.
Even though he missed a huge chunk of games this season, Mitchell is still an offensive threat to any team that faces him. Over the course of 55 games, all of which he played as the Cavs’ starting shooting guard, Spida averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. He is also shooting 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep during that stretch.
Mitchell’s performance is instrumental to pushing the Cavaliers deep in the playoffs. His ability to score the ball from anywhere on the court, paired with the talent to draw defenses to him, will be important for his team. If Cleveland hopes to win another ring, the All-Star guard must play at this pace until they do so, a dream Cavs fans will eagerly hold on to for the coming weeks.
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