Cleveland, OH

Donovan Mitchell leads the scoring as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic

Published

2 years ago

April 22, 2024

Donovan Mitchell leads the scoring as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic

A youthful Orlando Magic team came unstuck at the hands of the Cavaliers as Donovan Mitchell led the scoring in an 83-97 victory. Depsite Mitchell’s high scoring performance, double-doubles from both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley were key pieces in the Cavaliers’ victory.

The Cavs will have been looking to make up for last seasons first-round disappointment against the New York Knicks and victory today set them facing in the right direction.

The last time the two met, the Magic came away with a 116-109 victory, where Mitchell was not a feature due to injury. However, his impact today proved to be too much for the Orlando defence as Cleveland lead the series 1-0.

In their first play-off match for four years, the Orlando Magic couldn’t live up to Cleveland’s experience and physicality on the court and will be hoping they can show a much improved performance at home court on Tuesday, where they rank in third in the East for home form.

Story of the Game:

The game began with two back-to-back three pointers from the Cavs as they sailed into an early lead. They lead the Magic 15-0 in points gained from three-point range and it was clear that the Cavs had the edge early on when it came to shooting from distance. By the end of the first quarter, the Cavs led the Magic 33-26 while shooting 56.5% from the field and 50% from three. Mitchell and Evan Mobley ended the quarter in double figures, whilst Paolo Banchero’s eight points were the highest from the Magic.

2024 NBA Playoffs - Orlando Magic v Cleveland Cavaliers CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: <strong><a href= — 2024 NBA Playoffs – Orlando Magic v Cleveland Cavaliers CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 20: **Evan Mobley** #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during Round One Game One of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic on April 20, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)

In terms of experience, the Orlando Magic’s starters had played just 44 minutes together on the court, whilst the Cavs’ starters had registered 348 minutes. This was clear to see in the second quarter as the Cavaliers’ physicality and clever play was frustrating the Magic and tempers began to rise. With three minutes left in Q2, the Cavaliers managed to extend to a 14-point gap. At the half, the Cavs had a 48.7 field goal percentage, whilst the Magic had a percentage of 31.7. The Cavs had outscored the Magic by five in the second.

With the third quarter underway, the quality on the court began to diminish. The Cavaliers had three turnovers from their first six possessions and this allowed the Magic to close the gap down to just three points midway through Q3. Even worse, J.B. Bickerstaff’s team went on a 0-18 run from three point range. However Jarret Allen’s presence in the paint and Donovan Mitchell‘s quick-fire scoring saw the Cavs re-extent their lead, with a 16-5 scoring run to end the quarter. Magic 58 – 73 Cavaliers.

As the fourth and final quarter began, Darius Garland made Cleveland’s first three pointer in 31 minutes and 58 seconds, where they had managed to miss 18 straight from beyond the arch. This allowed the Cavs to soar into a 20-point lead (their largest winning margin of the game) and ultimately eliminated any hope the Magic had of coming back. A short scare came as, with five minutes to go, the Cavaliers’ reduced down to single figures but overall they came away with a comfortable 83-97 victory on home court.

Player of the Game: Donovan Mitchell

Getting the scoring underway early into the game, Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers to victory with a huge 30-point game. The former 13th overall pick contributed to some key plays and dominated on the court. The Magic were unable to handle him and he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to 1-0 lead in the play-off series.

2024 NBA Playoffs – Orlando Magic v Cleveland Cavaliers CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 20: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during Round One Game One of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic on April 20, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Cleveland, OH

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Iran strikes spark debate among Northeast Ohio residents

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Liberation Center and nearly 100 other organizations rallied in Cleveland Sunday to protest the U.S. strikes on Iran, demonstrating significant grassroots opposition to the military action.

The recent U.S. military strikes on Iran and the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have ignited passionate discussions across the nation, and Northeast Ohio is no exception.

While state political leaders express support for President Donald Trump’s actions, local activists are raising urgent questions about the impact on American communities.

Dallas Eckman, a public school teacher and volunteer coordinator with the Cleveland Liberation Center, is taking a clear stance against the recent attacks.

“We need to step up as Americans and say violence is not going to be the way we solve out world’s problems,” Eckman said.

The frustration runs deeper for Eckman, who sees a disconnect between military spending and domestic priorities.

“It’s absurd that for me as a public-school teacher I am struggling to get funding for chrome books and books. I can wake up one morning and see we have spent millions and millions of dollars to bomb another country,” he explained.

Eckman questions whether these military actions actually benefit working people in Cleveland.

“Which does nothing for the working people here in Cleveland. It does nothing to make my schools safer. It does nothing to improve the road right outside the liberation center,” Eckman said.

Eckman’s concerns are shared by many in the region.

Despite local opposition, several Ohio’s political leaders are backing the Trump administration’s decision.

Senator Bernie Moreno released a statement expressing his support, stating, “President Trump sought for months to avoid conflict and negotiate with Iran to prevent them from rebuilding their nuclear program. I fully support his decision.”

Secretary of State John Husted also voiced his approval.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime had ample opportunity to be a productive member of the global community — instead, it chose to export death, terrorism, extremism, and instability against America and our allies,” Husted said.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Published

16 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets prediction, pick for Sunday 3/1/26

Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Sunday’s NBA matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets.

Eastern Conference rivals close their regular-season series on Sunday, as the Brooklyn Nets host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center.

The Cavaliers (37–24, 4th East) have dropped back-to-back games without Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, albeit against far superior competition. They’ll aim for the three-game sweep of Brooklyn without Mitchell, while Harden remains questionable.

The Nets (15–44, 14th East) are mired in a brutal seven-game losing streak, including a 112–84 thumping in Cleveland on February 19.

Here’s a look at the Injury Report:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Out: Donovan Mitchell (Groin), Max Strus (Foot), Dean Wade (Ankle)
Questionable: James Harden (Thumb), Keon Ellis (Finger)

Brooklyn Nets

Out: Egor Demin (Heel), Drake Powell (G-League Assignment)
Questionable: Nic Claxton (Thumb)

Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. Cleveland enters as a hefty 11.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Brooklyn sits as a +410 underdog. The game’s total is set at 222.5 points.

Cavaliers vs. Nets Preview

Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

The Cavaliers went all in at the NBA trade deadline, sending Darius Garland to Los Angeles for superstar guard James Harden. The gamble seemingly paid off, as the former MVP has fit seamlessly into the lineup alongside Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland went 6–1 after Harden’s debut, its lone loss coming against the defending champs in Oklahoma City.

But the momentum quickly stalled when both Harden and Mitchell hit the sidelines to nurse injuries. Cleveland has dropped back-to-back games in the star duo’s absence against Milwaukee and Detroit. And while Harden is listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest with a thumb fracture in his non-shooting hand, Mitchell remains out with a groin strain.

The Cavs are just 2–4 without Mitchell this season. If Harden stays out, they’ll likely keep relying on their accomplished frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Cleveland also features a solid veteran backup point guard in Dennis Schroder, along with a reliable sharpshooter in Sam Merrill.

Brooklyn Nets Preview

Brooklyn has won five games in 2026. Five.

Were any of these wins particularly impressive? Hardly. They beat a Nikola Jokic-less Denver Nuggets, the spiraling Chicago Bulls twice, the lowly Washington Wizards, and the tanking Utah Jazz.

The Nets rank dead last on both ends of the floor since January 1, disappointing even by their standards. They’ve lost seven games in a row, punctuated by a 37-point walloping in Boston on Friday night.

Michael Porter Jr. will continue trying to carry an increasingly strained offense without rookie standout Egor Demin. Brooklyn will also lean on its burgeoning frontcourt, comprising Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton (questionable).

Cavaliers vs. Nets Pick, Best Bet

Keep an eye on the injury report for this one. If Harden remains sidelined, Cleveland may lack the offensive firepower to pull away. But if the former MVP suits up, expect him and the Cavs to carve up Brooklyn’s porous defense and comfortably cover the 11.5-point spread.