Cavaliers pull together to overcome Orlando, but challenge stiffens with top-seeded Celtics up next

CLEVELAND (AP) — It took Donovan Mitchell’s magnificence, a historic comeback and plenty of grit for the Cavaliers to escape the first round.

It will take even more to go any further.

Cleveland avoided a second straight first-round playoff knockout — and a potential doomsday scenario for the organization — by overcoming an 18-point deficit Sunday to beat the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7.

The Cavs, who turned some early boos into deafening roars at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, had little time to celebrate their first series win since 1993 without a certain NBA career scoring leader from nearby Akron on their roster.

The page had to be turned quickly. No. 1 seed Boston’s next.

But before they began focusing on the Celtics ahead of Game 1 on Tuesday night at TD Center, the Cavs savored a victory that was in many ways a microcosm of a season filled with injuries, h...
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