© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cavaliers’ First Round NBA Playoff Series Set, Will Face Magic
Eastern Conference fourth-seeded Cleveland will face fifth-seeded Orlando in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2009.
The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive postseason with their victory over the Indiana Pacers this past Friday night. However, Cleveland’s seed and first round series opponent were yet to be determined.
On Sunday, the Wine and Gold fell to the Charlotte Hornets, the Milwaukee Bucks lost their game, and the New York Knicks won their game.
As a result, the Cavaliers secured the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed, and will face the fifth-seeded Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series is set to begin in Cleveland on Saturday, April 20 at a time to be determined.
The Wine and Gold played four games against the Magic this regular season, finishing 1-1 both at home and on the road. The Cavaliers outscored Orlando by an average margin of 112.5-107.5, outrebounded the opposition by an average margin of 41.3-36.5, and shot 39.6% from three-point range to Orlando’s 33.0% clip.
Dec 6, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Notably, in the first meeting between the two teams back on December 6, Cleveland held the Magic to just 2-for-23 (8.7%) from beyond the arc. This was the Wine and Gold’s lowest opponent three-point percentage of the season, and lowest since February 20, 2015.
Donovan Mitchell (27.3 PPG) and Darius Garland (26.7 PPG) each averaged at least 20 points per game in three games against Orlando this regular season, while Paolo Banchero (23.0 PPG), who played in all four contests, was the Magic’s only player to average at least 20 points per game against the Cavaliers.
The Wine and Gold look to avenge their first round exit from last postseason, when they were also the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed and fell to the Knicks in the series 4-1.
