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The Orlando Magic will play at the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs Saturday.
Orlando (47-35) earned the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and is seeking its first playoff series win since 2010.
playoff mode #Everybodyin pic.twitter.com/AsBAXxKMK8
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 18, 2024
Magic-Cavs Series History
This is the second meeting all-time between the Magic and the Cavaliers (48-34) in the playoffs. Orlando won in six games against the LeBron James-led Cavaliers in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals. However, the Magic fell 4-1 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals that year.
https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1781108465814905153
This season, the Magic and Cavaliers alternated wins in their four meetings to split the series 2-2. The Cavaliers claimed the most lopsided win of the series Jan. 22 with a 27-point win in Orlando. However, the Magic own the most recent win in the series, winning the series finale 116-109 in Cleveland. Both teams won a game at home and on the road against each other.
Magic Continue to Surprise
Orlando’s 47 wins is the franchise’s most in over a decade. The last time Orlando won more than 47 games was the 2010-2011 season when it finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and won 52 games. Dwight Howard also won NBA Defensive Player of the Year that season, but the Magic lost 4-2 in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks.
The Magic have been one of the most surprising teams by winning 13 more games than last season. Orlando forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have led one of the youngest rosters in the league to the team’s first division title since the 2018-19 season. This year’s fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference is the franchise’s best since a fourth place in 2011.
Tip-off Saturday is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN.
round one schedule let's get ittt#EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/De6cz0tp1g
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) April 17, 2024
