Cleveland Cavaliers sink Orlando Magic to progress in NBA playoffs

Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points, Caris LeVert added 15 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided a potential franchise loss by rallying for a 106-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday in Game 7 to advance to the playoffs of the Eastern Conference.

The Cavs trailed by 18 in the first half and were in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the second year in a row — a scenario that may have led to layoffs.

But Mitchell, who scored 50 in a Game 6 loss in Orlando and has been dealing with a left knee injury for months, put the Cavs on his back. He carried them past a fast-rising Orlando team whose inexperience in the playoffs became apparent in the second half.

Evan Mobley grabbed 16 rebounds and Darius Garland hit a critical 3-pointer in the fourth for Cleveland, which won its first playoff series without LeBron James since 1993.