Paolo Banchero scored 27 points and Franz Wagner added 26 as the Orlando Magic forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference first-round series with a 103-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
Jalen Suggs sank six 3-pointers to highlight his 22-point performance for the fifth-seeded Magic, who overcame 50 points by Donovan Mitchell to even the best-of-seven series at three wins apiece. Orlando forced its first Game 7 since the 2009 playoffs.
The Magic will visit Cleveland on Sunday afternoon for Game 7 in a series that has featured the home team winning the first six games. The winner of Sunday’s game will advance to the conference semifinals to square off against the top-seeded Boston Celtics.
“This is the moment that you play for,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said about Game 7. “It’s why you do it. You do it for these moments. So being on the road, Game 7, the ability to come together to continue to grow in each game. I think that what this group is looking forward to.”
Mitchell made 22 of 36 shots from the floor and fellow guard Darius Garland added 21 points for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers.
Despite missing a chance to advance in Game 6, Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff was confident heading into Sunday’s win-or-go-home matchup.
“Our guys will be ready for the moment,” Bickerstaff said. “Our guys have been really good at home. We don’t expect that to change.”
Mitchell scored all 18 of his team’s fourth-quarter points, highlighted by a 3-pointer to forge an 89-89 tie with 4:01 to play. Banchero made a 3-pointer and a layup and Cole Anthony answered Mitchell’s short jumper with a tip-in with 1:57 left to boost Orlando’s lead to 96-91.
Mitchell scored from the interior and sank a 3-pointer to pull Cleveland within four at 100-96 with 20.6 seconds left. Suggs made a free throw to extend the Magic’s advantage and Evan Mobley failed to convert at the other end to effectively end the game.
“Everybody kept their head up; everybody was talking in every huddle,” Banchero told Bally Sports Florida. “Gotta give credit to the whole team. It was such a special night. And we want to do it again.”
Suggs converted a four-point play to stake Orlando to a 53-46 lead with 34.8 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Mitchell answered by scoring the final three points of the first half and nine of the first 13 for his team in the third quarter to give Cleveland a 62-55 advantage.
The Magic closed within one at 74-73 before Mitchell made a driving layup and a short jumper to end the third quarter.
Mavericks eliminate Clippers
Kyrie Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half and the Dallas Mavericks advanced to the second round with a resounding 114-101 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of the Western Conference series on Friday night.
Luka Doncic recorded 28 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds as the fifth-seeded Mavericks won the series in six games. Dallas will meet the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round.
P.J. Washington added 14 points, Daniel Gafford had 13 and reserve Dereck Lively II contributed 10 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks.
Norman Powell scored 20 points off the bench and Paul George added 18 for the fourth-seeded Clippers, who were without Kawhi Leonard (knee) for the third straight game and fourth time in the series.
Ivica Zubac tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds, James Harden added 16 points, 13 assists and seven boards, and Terance Mann had 14 points for Los Angeles.
Dallas lost forward Maxi Kleber to a right shoulder sprain early in the second quarter.
The Mavericks shot 48.2% from the field, including 12 of 36 from 3-point range. Irving made five 3-pointers and Washington added four.
Los Angeles connected on 41.5% of its attempts and was just 8 of 31 from behind the arc.
The Clippers eliminated Dallas in the first round of the 2020 and 2021 playoffs but barely put up a fight over the first 6½ minutes of the fourth quarter.
Dallas had a 15-point advantage to open the period and soon pushed it to 100-78 with 7:36 left after back-to-back baskets by Doncic and Derrick Jones Jr.
A short time later, Irving was dancing and prancing around the coverage of P.J. Tucker. He drove toward the right corner and swished a 3-pointer. Tucker fouled him and Irving hit the free throw for a four-point play and a 106-82 lead with 5:38 remaining.
The electric play had Dallas in celebration mode, but Los Angeles began making a charge. Harden’s three-point play capped a 13-2 burst that saw the Clippers move within 108-95 with 3:11 to go.
But with the margin at 14 with 1:14 left, both teams emptied the benches.