Host Danny Leroux talks with Kevin Pelton of ESPN (@kpelton.bsky.social) about the NBA playoffs.

They break down each of the four second-round series in terms of the key matchups, swing factors and much more plus other NBA discussion.

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Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mitchell scored 39 points in Game 7 after scoring 50 in Game 6.

Cleveland's 18-point comeback is the largest in a Game 7 since at least 1997. 

The Cavaliers were resilient against the Magic one season after they were eliminated in five games in the first round by the New York Knicks.

"I'm tired of losing in the first round," Mitchell said. "You work too hard. We work too hard. That was my mindset ... for me, just be in attack mode. I'm battling through what I'm battling through, but I could battle through it and figure it out, or rehab it for the next three or four months. That's where I'm at mentally."

"[Mitchell is] the guy that can pull everybody along, not just with his skill but in spirit as well," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "When you see your teammate, a guy you care about playing that way, you don't want to let that guy down so you go out and do whatever you can to help that guy.

"We talk about how everybody has their style and their piece of leadership here and that's how Don leads, by being special in the moment. His teammates want to be a part of it."

"I don’t mean this disrespectful, but it doesn’t really mean much,” Mitchell said. “We didn't come in just to win the first round. We accomplished one goal, now we have to do it again. That’s the mindset."

The Cleveland Cavaliers will play Game 7 against the Orlando Magic without a key starter. Jarrett Allen will miss his third straight game due to a rib injury.

Allen was hurt in Game 4 of the Cavs first-round series against the Magic. Cleveland has split the two games against the Magic without Allen.

Isaac Okoro started the Game 5 victory in place of Allen. JB Bickerstaff is returning Okoro to start, in place of Marcus Morris Sr. who started the Game 6 loss.

Jarrett Allen did not practice with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday due to a rib injury.

Allen's status for Game 6 against the Magic is uncertain.

Allen will travel with the team to Orlando for Game 6.

"He's still working through some things, still getting treatment. He'll be with us on the trip, obviously, and we expect him to give it a go if he can," said J.B. Bickerstaff.

The Cavs lead the series 3-2. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have ruled out Dean Wade for the remainder of their first round series against the Orlando Magic with a right knee sprain.

Wade recently underwent an MRI to diagnose the extent of the injury.

In 54 games this season, Wade is averaging 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds on 39.1 percent shooting on three-pointers. 

The Eastern Conference seeds are set following the end of regular season on Sunday. The first round begins on Saturday, April 20th.

First Round Matchups

• No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 (Sixers, Heat, Bulls or Hawks)

• No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 (Sixers or Heat)

• No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers

• No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic

Play-In

• No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 8 Miami Heat

• No. 9 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 10 Atlanta Hawks

Donovan Mitchell is expected to decline his $37.1 million player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2025-26 season, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

Mitchell would then become an unrestricted free agent next July.

There is also buzz in league circles that Mitchell will decline an extension from the Cavs unless the team makes a run to the NBA Finals.

Dan Gilbert has previously stated his confidence that Mitchell will sign a long-term extension with the Cavs.

Dean Wade hasn't played for the Cleveland Cavaliers since March 8. He was initially out due to personal reason, but then a sore knee came up and Wade has been out since. Now, the Cavs are calling it a sprained knee for Wade.

Cleveland hasn't given any official update, nor issued a timeline. But, given how few games are left, Wade may miss the remainder of the regular season due to the injury.

Wade has been a key rotation played for the Cavaliers this season. The 6-foot-10 combo forward started in 32 of the 54 games he played. Wade has averaged 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game. He's also shot 39.1% on three-pointers and given Cleveland good defense against scoring forwards.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Marcus Morris Sr. for the remainder of the season.

Morris Sr. (6-8, 235) signed a 10-day contract with the team on March 18th and appeared in five games, averaging 7.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18.4 minutes while also shooting .438 from the three-point line.

Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Morris Sr. appeared in 37 games this season with the Philadelphia 76ers, before being traded to San Antonio as part of a three-team deal on February 8th. He was later waived on February 29th.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are confident Donovan Mitchell will sign a long-term contract extension with the franchise.

“We’ve been talking to him, sure, for the last couple of years about extending this contract,” Dan Gilbert told Larry Lage of the Associated Press. “We think he will extend. I think if you listen to him talk, he loves the city.

“He loves the situation in Cleveland because our players are very young and we’re just kind of putting the core together that he’s clearly the biggest part of.”

Mitchell signed a five-year, $163 million contract in 2020 with Utah and is under contract through the 2026 season.

Mitchell is eligible to sign a four-year extension this summer worth approximately $200 million.

There has been some speculation in the media that Mitchell could reject an extension offer by the Cavaliers and either seek a trade or leave in free agency in 2025.