The 2024 NBA postseason continued on Friday night, and only one first-round series was left standing. The Orlando Magic started things off with a tense 103-96 Game 6 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to force a seventh and decisive game on Sunday in Cleveland. The Magic withstood a 50-point barrage from Donovan Mitchell, who went a sparkling 22-for-36 from the field. Their matchup is the only first-round series to reach Game 7 this postseason.
In the nightcap, the LA Clippers were eliminated in six games by the Dallas Mavericks, 114-101, thanks to a masterful second-half performance from Kyrie Irving. The veteran guard finished with 30 points, six rebounds and four assists on 11-for-19 shooting, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. His backcourt mate Luka Doncic was no slouch himself, putting up 28 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. Dallas will face the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, with Game 1 set for Tuesday evening.
Here are the final scores and a couple of takeaway's from Friday night's action.
Friday's playoff games:
- Game 6: Magic 103, Cavaliers 96 -- (Series tied 3-3)
- Game 6: Mavericks 114, Clippers 100 -- (DAL wins series 4-2)
Takeaways from Friday night
Two best words in sports
Game 7, here we come. The Orlando Magic beat Donovan Mitchell the Cavaliers on Friday night to tie up the series and force a final, decisive game on Sunday in Cleveland. Mitchell was simply phenomenal, scoring 50 points, including all 18 in the fourth quarter for the Cavs. In the end, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs were too much down the stretch -- the trio accounted for 75 of the Magic's 103 points.
Cleveland has the experience advantage on Sunday, especially with Mitchell's playoff battles as a member of the Utah Jazz, and the home team has won every game this series. No matter who ends up advancing to play the Boston Celtics next round, however, we should be in store for a tense, exciting Game 7.
"This is the moment that you play for," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of the upcoming Game 7. "It's not going to be easy, nor do we want it to be easy. That's what this group has always embraced all year long. The harder it is, the better we will be."
Closeout Kyrie
After a slow first half in which he scored just two points, Irving went absolutely insane in the second half, scoring 28 points to put the Clippers to bed. Irving is just the player you want with the chance to advance, as he is now 13-0 in closeout games over the course of his career.
Once he saw a couple shots go in the basket, there was simply no stopping Irving, who scored from all conceivable spots and angles. His incredible dribbling display that turned into a fadeaway, and-one 3-pointer from the corner was the final dagger in the Clippers' coffin.
Dallas moves on to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, with Game 1 set for Tuesday evening.
"It's gonna be up-tempo, we've got a bunch of young guys we're going against," Irving said of the impending matchup with the Thunder. "I think I'm one of the oldest in the playoffs, so I feel like it's part of my responsibility to get my guys ready. And we'll be ready to go in OKC."