Cleveland Cavaliers Cap NBA Playoff Debut with 97-83 Victory Over Orlando Magic
Cavaliers Take Early Series Lead in First Round of NBA Playoffs
Cleveland, Ohio – April 20, 2024
The Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off their NBA playoff journey with a resounding 97-83 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic in Game 1 of the first round on Wednesday night.
The Cavs dominated from the outset, controlling the pace and setting the tone for the contest. Led by Darius Garland's 25 points and 8 assists, Cleveland never surrendered the lead throughout the evening.
The Orlando Magic, making their first playoff appearance since 2019, struggled to find their rhythm against the Cavaliers' suffocating defense. Franz Wagner, the team's leading scorer during the regular season, was held to just 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting.
The Cavs, making their first playoff appearance since 2018, held the Magic below their season average of 113.8 points per game. Miami Heat's Max Strus aptly summed up the outcome, stating that "Game 1 told everything" as the Cavaliers executed a near-flawless performance.
Game 2 of the series will take place in Cleveland on Saturday, April 22, before moving to Orlando for Games 3 and 4 on Monday, April 24, and Wednesday, April 26, respectively.
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