Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell scores 39 in comeback win, faces Boston Celtics in NBA Playoffs

Mitchell scores 39 in Cavs comeback | Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points, Caris LeVert added 15 and Cleveland avoided a loss that could change franchise history by rallying to beat the Orlando Magic 106-94. Sunday in Game 7 to advance in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Playoffs, where now They face one of the best teams of the season, the Boston Celtics.

LThe Cavs led by 18 points in the first half and were in danger of being eliminated early for the second year in a row. a situation that could have led to layoffs. But Mitchell, who scored 50 in the Game 6 loss in Orlando and has been battling a left knee injury for months, put the Cavs on his back. It got them past a promising Orlando team that lacked playoff experience in the second half.

“I don’t want to say it’s disrespectful, but that doesn’t mean much,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t just come to win the first round. We achieved a goal, now we have to do it again. “That’s the mindset.” According to the NBA, Cleveland’s comeback is the largest in a Game 7 since the league began tracking play-by-play in 1997-98.

Evan Mobley grabbed 16 rebounds and Darius Garland hit a critical 3-pointer – after receiving a pep talk from Mitchell – fourth for Cleveland, which won its first playoff series without LeBron James since 1993.

The Cavs will begin the second round on the road against the Celtics, a top seed, in Game 1 on Tuesday. Boston was 2-1 against Cleveland this season.

In the last minutes, the A towel-waving crowd inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse chanted, “We want Boston!” – a conflict that did not seem like an hour before.

“I’m pretty sure everyone thinks they’re going to come and kick our butts,” Mitchell said. “So, for us, to continue to be level headed all the time and to be who we are, that’s the most important thing. “

* With information from AP

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