Mitchell scores 43 to lead Cavs to 117-113 win over Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 43points, his fourth straight 40-point game, to lead the ClevelandCavaliers to a 117-113 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesdaynight.

The win secured the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference andhome-court advantage in the first round for the Cavaliers(50-30).

“Fifty wins, that’s no small thing, and now we’ve got to belocked in for the playoffs,” Mitchell said.

“You want to start at home, be in your own bed, your ownfacility. All those little things have a major impact in a series.That was a big spark for tonight. You could see it witheverybody.”

The New York Knicks are currently fifth and Cleveland’s likelyfirst-round opponent with three games left.

Mitchell scored Cleveland’s last six points to become the firstCavalier to score 40 or more points in four straight games, and thefirst player in the NBA since James Harden had five straight in the2018-19 season.

Caris LeVert added 19 points and Darius Garland had 16 pointsand 10 assists in the opener of a two-game series. The teams meetagain Thursday.

“When you look at this regular season, this has been a massivesuccess for us,” said Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “We’re notdone. We’re looking forward to the next part of this, but to win 50games in the NBA is an accomplishment for sure.”

Markelle Fultz had 23 points and eight assists, and PaoloBanchero had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic (34-45).

The loss eliminated Orlando from playoff contention.

The Magic ran off 13 straight points while the Cavs wentscoreless for more than four minutes of the first quarter, andOrlando led by nine — the largest lead of the game — when GaryHarris hit a 3-pointer midway through the second period.

But after being held to four shots and six points in the first17 minutes, Mitchell got it going late in the first half, combiningwith Levert on a rally that pulled Cleveland ahead just beforehalftime.

“These guys trust me to go out there and do it,” Mitchell said.”For me, it’s not like it’s forced. Those guys are out therefinding me, allowing me to attack, keep going. But I’m also playingwithin the flow of the offense.”

Two 3-pointers by Mitchell, with a couple of Jarrett Allenblocks in between, lifted the Cavs to a 108-99 lead with 6:04left.

Wendell Carter, who finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, hittwo 3-pointers to regain a one-point lead for the Magic beforeLeVert’s final 3-pointer put the Cavaliers back ahead with 3:31remaining. Mitchell took over from there.

“Donovan got some clutch baskets down the stretch,” said Fultz.“They just executed down the stretch. They’re a great team. They’rethe fourth seed and they came in trying to clinch that, and we cameup short in the end.”

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: Cleveland’s 50-win season is its first since 1993without LeBron James on the roster. ... In his four-game 40-plusspurt, Mitchell has scored 169 points in 161 minutes, shooting60.6% (63 for 104) ... F Isaac Okoro missed a fourth straight gamewith a sore left knee.

Magic: The Magic had a 47-30 rebound advantage.. ... The Magicare 20-20 at home going into Thursday night’s home finale.

MEANINGFUL GAME IN APRIL

The Magic, out of the postseason for the ninth time in 11 years,came back to play a rare “meaningful game in April” after a 5-20start, leaving coach Jamahl Mosley with a good feeling after theirmathematical elimination.

“That’s the fourth seed in the East,” Mosley said. “We held ourown, and more so, and our guys have to understand and believe whatwe’re capable of doing moving forward.”