Cavs vs. Magic Game 6: Live updates and highlights from first-round playoff series (2024)

ORLANDO, Florida -- The Cavs fell to the Magic 103-96 Friday night, forcing a Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday.

If you want to interpret where the Cavs went wrong, relive all the sights, sounds, action of the contest with real-time updates, analysis, and highlights from Cavs beat reporter Ethan Sands. The newest updates and analysis will be at the top.

Final: Cavs fall to the Magic 103-96

End of the fourth quarter -- Donovan Mitchell scored all of the Cavs’ 18 points in the final frame

Donovan Mitchell = 50 points. The rest of the Cavs = 46 points.

Donovan Mitchell has 50 points for the third time in a playoff game in his career. It’s the second ever 50-point game by a Cavs player, joining LeBron James (51). Cavs trail 101-96 with 17.7 seconds remaining.

Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland have the most points in the paint in Cavs franchise history by a starting backcourt in the playoffs.

The Cavs are fighting tooth and nail to pull this one out. They trail 98-93 with 1:05 remaining. Donovan Mitchell has 47 points on 21 of 34 shooting.

Donovan Mitchell fires back with a 3-pointer of his own to bring the game back tied 89-89 with 3:45 remaining in the game.

Donovan Mitchell has his fifth career 40-point game in the playoffs.

Jalen Suggs was just called for a flop when he went up for a 3-pointer. If he didn’t try to draw the 4-point play, the basket would’ve counted and the Magic would be in the lead, but the Cavs lead 84-82 with seven minutes remaining in the game.

Evan Mobley just blocked Cole Anthony to the floor. That block makes five for Mobley on the night, a playoff career high.

Donovan Mitchell is willing this team. Back-to-back baskets in the lane to give the Cavs back the lead. This is another back-and-forth affair.

Max Strus was called for an offensive foul and motioned that the Magic are flopping with an extend arm.

Immediately out of that, Markelle Fultz went into the chest of Darius Garland and hit a midrange after Garland stumbled. The Magic know the Cavs are lacking an interior presence in Jarrett Allen and are attacking their mental as well as the Cavs’ bodies.

Max Strus gets into it with Mo Wagner, who flopped as Strus gave him a mini shove and immediately asked for the Magic to review the play. Mo Wagner’s antics this series have been hysterical to watch but borderline impactful for the Magic. In a Game 6 that could determine the Cavs moving on to the next round, they can’t get caught up in anything that could change the tide on enemy territory.

Fourth quarter

End of the third quarter: Cavs lead 78-73

Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland combined for 20 of the Cavs’ 29 points in the period. Mitchell has 32 and Garland has 21 in the contest.

The Cavs outscored the Magic 29-20 in the third quarter. The Cavs had been outscored 72-26 in the third quarter in two games at the Kia Center during this series.

Donovan Mitchell with back-to-back buckets to end the period, and he’s shaking his head as he walks back to the bench as if the Magic can’t guard him, even while hurt.

Georges Niang just stopped a Magic fast break with a hard foul and Franz Wagner wagged his finger at Niang and Niang just wagged his finger back. Almost to say, “I see you, you see me, we gonna go to war.”

Tristan Thompson went into the body of Moritz Wagner, no foul was called, and Thompson dunked it with emphasis. Mobley is on the bench for now and Thompson is picking up the intensity/physicality. A switch made by J.B. Bickerstaff that could have had to do with a recent play involving Jalen Suggs and Georges Niang.

Georges Niang got called for an offensive foul and as he was trying to help up Jalen Suggs, who he laid out, Suggs gave him a shove. The Magic have been the aggressor this entire series and Suggs might have just been trying to light a fire under his squad.

Back-to-back triples from the Cavs as they fire right back at the Magic.

Georges Niang hits his second 3-pointer of the series in a period that the Magic were starting to swing momentum.

Back-to-back triples from the Magic ends the Cavs’ run and brings them and the crowd back to life in the Kia Center. Cavs lead 66-65 with 4:45 remaining in the third.

Darius Garland is being much more physical in Game 6 then he was to start this series. He has a tough turn around midrange jumper followed by a defensive stop on Jalen Suggs.

Max Strus has his second triple of the game and first of the second half. The Cavs are on a 13-2 run to start the third quarter.

Donovan Mitchell just hit a step-back 3-pointer, fell in agony and got back on defense. Mitchell is giving up his body for this game and to get past postseason skepticism.

Evan Mobley had two free throws to give the Cavs a lead and then had a steal on the other end.

Donovan Mitchell has the first three buckets for the Cavs and brings them even with the Magic 55-55 just two minutes into the third period.

Donovan Mitchell gets two quick buckets to bring the Cavs within two. He had a little more burst on his latest transition bucket.

Evan Mobley is back on the floor for the Cavs.

Third quarter

Halftime -- Evan Mobley is back on the court after appearing to roll his ankle in the first half. He’s doing his regular post-half shooting workout.

End of the second quarter: Magic lead 53-49

The Cavs are 1 of 14 from beyond the arc in the first half while the Magic are 7 of 19. 40 of the Cavs’ 49 points have come in the paint.

Donovan Mitchell has 19 points and three assists while Darius Garland has 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists at the half.

Marcus Morris Sr. gave a little elbow to Jalen Suggs as Morris set a screen. The play is being reviewed for a flagrant foul. It was ruled a regular foul. Morris now has two fouls in the contest.

Donovan Mitchell is pushing his body to the limit as he’s fighting through a knee injury and still continuing to take players off the dribble.

On the other end, Evan Mobley seemed to roll his ankle on a contested finish at the rim. He subbed out for Tristan Thompson and is actively trying to through it to get back on the court.

Evan Mobley just blocked Jonathan Isaac, who attempted to back him down. And Mobley walked down the court shaking his head after the play as if to say, “Why would he even try that?” Mobley doesn’t show a lot of emotion so subtle things like the head shake are noticeable from him. Mobley has three blocks in the first half.

Marcus Morris Sr. is back on the court and immediately calls for an on-court huddle after Donovan Mitchell is fouled. Morris prioritizes his leadership and being able to keep the team in check or point out things he’s noticing, which he can do better from on the floor rather than on the sideline.

Once the Cavs have grabbed a defensive rebound and worked into transition, they’ve been able to catch the Magic on their heels. The last two buckets from Garland and Donovan Mitchell were of the downhill variety. Mitchell leads the Cavs with 12 points and Garland follows with 10 of his own. The rest of the Cavs roster has 10 points. Cavs trail 34-32 with 7:56 remaining in the half.

The Cavs are best operating in transition against this length Magic defense. The Cavs get their first points of the second period on an outlet pass from Caris LeVert to Darius Garland.

Second quarter

End of the first quarter: Magic lead 29-25

The Cavs scored 20 of their 25 points in the paint in the first period. Donovan Mitchell had a team-high 10 points and three assists in the opening frame.

The Cavs are just 1 of 8 from beyond the arc while the Magic are 4 of 10. The Magic are a completely different perimeter shooting team at home than on the road.

Darius Garland has six points on 3 of 4 shooting and is attacking to the basket, something he strayed away from at the end of the regular season. Seeing Garland use his change of speed to throw defenders off is a positive sign and will be needed as the contest continues.

Now Tristan Thompson checks in as the Cavs need to give Evan Mobley a breather. So much for the eight-man rotation that has been used a majority if this series, in this Game 6, it’s an everything goes mentality for J.B. Bickerstaff.

Georges Niang and Caris LeVert are now off the bench for the Cavs. Niang didn’t play in Game 5 and has struggled from beyond the arc this series (1 of 11).

Isaac Okoro is in for Marcus Morris Sr. The first substitution of the game for the Cavs.

Darius Garland is moving quickly in transition. After a deep triple from Jalen Suggs, Garland went right back at Suggs on the other end for a tough layup. The Cavs will need Garland to be attack minded, taking pressure off surrounding players while creating his own shots.

Max Strus hitting an early 3-pointer is a confidence booster for a volume shooter that can get hot and stay hot if his shot if falling from the jump.

With Gary Harris being out, the Magic have elected to have Jalen Suggs guard Darius Garland and Jonathan Isaac guard Donovan Mitchell. Garland gets the scoring started with the first bucket of the game.

First quarter

Pregame notes:

With Gary Harris out for the Magic with a hamstring injury, Jonathan Isaac slides into the starting unit for Orlando, making the move for more size in Morris for the Cavs to be even more crucial.

When leading 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, the Cavs hold a 9-1 all-time series record.

Jarrett Allen is OUT (rib contusion) for Game 6. Marcus Morris Sr. will get the start for the Cavs in Orlando.

“We can’t go down there with the mindset of, ‘Oh, we won [Game 5], and we’ve got Game 7 coming home,’” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said on Thursday at practice before the team traveled to Orlando. “We need to go down there with the mindset and the approach that we’re going to take care of business [on the road].”

The Cavs are wearing their all-white jerseys, according to LockerVision.

Here is Ethan’s preview of Game 6.

The Cavs would face Boston to begin the second round on Sunday if they win Game 6 in Orlando.

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