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'Superman': Donovan Mitchell's combined 89 points in Games 6 and 7 lead Cavs to series win
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- 'Superman': Donovan Mitchell's combined 89 points in Games 6 and 7 lead Cavs to series win
CLEVELAND — This is why the Cavaliers brought Donovan Mitchell to town. They know it. He knows it.
Over the last two games, while the Cavs were trying to clinch their first playoff series since 2018 and oust the Orlando Magic for good, Mitchell rose to the moment and poured in a combined 89 points in Games 6 and 7.
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He nearly single-handedly won the series Friday night in Orlando , scoring 50 points in Game 6, the second most in franchise history in a playoff game. In Sunday's Game 7 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse , after the Cavs at one point trailed by 18 points and appeared to be a sinking ship headed for another early summer break, Mitchell led them back, finishing with a game-high 39 points, including 17 points in the third quarter, which was the key stretch of the game .
"Leader of the team. Superman. Everything we need from him, he always does," said Isaac Okoro of Mitchell's performance when the Cavs needed it most. "He always delivers. Anytime it's a big game, big-time moment, get the ball in his hands. He's going to make the right play 10 out of 10 times."
Mitchell's 89 combined points are the second most in NBA history in Games 6 and 7 of a series, behind only Allen Iverson's 90 in the 2001 conference finals, according to Elias. And Mitchell did this a few weeks after receiving a knee injection, and 36 hours after essentially carrying the offense by himself in Orlando.
"One of the best in the world. I tell him that every day," said Max Strus , who scored 13 points in the second half of the Cavs' Game 7 win. "Dude's unstoppable. He's phenomenal. He's got a lot of dog in him. He doesn't quit. Love being a part of it. Love being able to help him."
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell reacts after a basket during the second half against the Magic in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell leads Cavaliers to first playoff series win without LeBron James since 1993
The Cavaliers hadn't won a playoff series without LeBron James on the roster in more than three decades. As they built the roster into a contender, Mitchell was brought in to be the centerpiece to end that drought and lead Cleveland into its next era .
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Since the moment he was drafted in 2003, the Cavaliers were, for the most part, a franchise led by James. And since he had left for the second time, the Cavs were traveling a long road back to finding any resemblance of success in the playoffs. Until Sunday, it had eluded them. But to Mitchell, it's only step one.
"It's an honor, obviously to be part of history in that regard," Mitchell said of the LeBron-James-adjacent history that was made Sunday. "But the biggest thing is, and I told everybody in the locker room, I don't mean this to be disrespectful, but it doesn't really mean much, you know what I mean?"
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers set sights on Boston Celtics in second round of NBA playoffs
Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) fouls Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell during the second half in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series, May 5, 2024, in Cleveland.
Mitchell has never been able to escape the second round. He and the Cavs now have their sights set on the No. 1-seeded Boston Celtics. That series will begin Tuesday night .
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Mitchell knows he was brought in for these moments. But it wasn't only for first-round moments. Sunday was simply the first in which the Cavs prevailed.
"We didn't make the group we made just to come in and win the first round," Mitchell said. "When they traded for me, it wasn't just to win a first-round series, it was to continue to push and move forward. And I think that's where all of our heads are at."
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers Donovan Mitchell playoff run leads Cavaliers over Magic
