These young Orlando Magic just won’t give up easily.
Facing elimination, the Magic showed up in clutch and overcame a monster Donovan Mitchell game.
Paolo Banchero dropped 27 points, Franz Wagner added 26, as the Magic lived to fight another day after surviving Mitchell’s 50-point explosion and the Cavaliers in a 103-96 Game 6 win.
MAGIC FORCE GAME 7 ??
Game 7: Sunday, 1pm/et on ABC
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
Jalen Suggs chipped in 22 markers, six rebounds, and four assists, as Orlando outscored Cleveland, 30-18, in the fourth to remain perfect at home in the playoffs with a 3-0 record.
Game 7 of this series will be back in Cleveland on Monday (PH time).
With the score tied at 86-all, Suggs hit a three-pointer to put the Magic ahead at 89-86, but Mitchell responded with a triple of his own to knot things up at 89-apiece with 4:01 seconds left in regulation.
Jalen Suggs hits the 3-pointer and Donovan Mitchell (43 PTS) answers with a triple of his own in the 4Q on ESPN 🎯🎯
#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/T4J0wanPtp
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
Banchero then scored five quick points as Orlando regained the upper hand before Mitchell answered back. In the ensuing possession, Suggs rose above and scored on a putback to give his squad a 96-91 lead with 1:57 left.
45 PTS for Donovan Mitchell to cut the deficit for Cleveland late in the 4Q!
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
CLE advances to the East Semis with a win on ESPN pic.twitter.com/tGtx3SF8MP
CLUTCH ANTHONY BLACK PUTBACK ??
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
ORL forces Game 7 if they hold on to the lead in the 4Q on ESPN #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/FM9MdYGESS
From that point on, the Magic held on and will compete in their first Game 7 in a playoff series since the 2009 postseason.
On the other hand, Mitchell dropped his third career 50-point playoff game and the first in four years since the 2020 NBA bubble.
Even scoring all of Cleveland’s 18-point fourth quarter output wasn’t enough for the former All-Star to will his squad to victory.
SPIDA 50 BALL 🕷? https://t.co/07z07x6ClV
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
That was before Mitchell dropped 13 more in the third in which the Cavaliers actually had their biggest lead at nine, 66-57.
Donovan Mitchell (32 PTS) beats the 3Q buzzer to extend Cleveland's lead 🚨
CLE-ORL Game 6 4Q is underway on ESPN pic.twitter.com/9eJ8gnhhW9
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
Garland added 21 points with Max Strus chipping in 10 for Cleveland, who were without starting center Jarret Allen for the second straight game (bruised rib) and couldn’t overcome a dismal three-point shooting (7 of 28).
The Spida started hot, pouring 19 first-half points but Cleveland trailed 53-49 against Orlando.
