The Cleveland Cavaliers opened their 2024 NBA playoff campaign with a convincing 126-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, setting the tone with a balanced attack led by Donovan Mitchell’s 32-point outburst. Dennis Schröder, the German international and former FIBA World Cup MVP, saw limited action off the bench, contributing two points in 13 minutes as Cleveland’s rotation remained deep and versatile.
The win, secured at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, gave the Cavaliers a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2 on Monday night. As the No. 4 seed in the East, Cleveland entered the playoffs with home-court advantage against the fifth-seeded Raptors, a matchup defined by contrasting styles: Cleveland’s half-court efficiency versus Toronto’s transition-driven offense.
Mitchell, acquired in the offseason trade that sent Darius Garland to Utah, immediately justified his role as the Cavaliers’ new offensive cornerstone. He shot 11-of-20 from the field, including four three-pointers, and added five rebounds and four assists. His scoring came in waves — particularly in the second and fourth quarters — where he repeatedly broke down Toronto’s defense with pull-up jumpers and drives to the basket.
James Harden, in his first playoff series with Cleveland after being acquired at the trade deadline, provided a steadying presence with 22 points, 10 assists, and just two turnovers. His ability to orchestrate the half-court offense and draw defensive attention created open looks for teammates, including Caris LeVert (16 points) and Evan Mobley (14 points, 9 rebounds).
Schröder’s role remained modest, as expected. The 32-year-old guard, who won FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket gold with Germany in 2023, has been used sparingly in Cleveland’s playoff rotation behind Mitchell, Harden, and Caris LeVert. His two points came on a pair of free throws in the third quarter, and while he didn’t fill the stat sheet, his defensive effort and spacing were noted by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff in the postgame press conference.
“Dennis does the little things that support us win,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s a pro, he knows his role, and when his number is called, he’s ready. Tonight, we didn’t need him to score 15 — we needed him to be smart, and he was.”
The Cavaliers’ bench contributed 38 points, outscoring Toronto’s reserves 38-22. Max Strus added 12 points off the bench, including three three-pointers, while Jarrett Allen finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks, anchoring Cleveland’s interior defense.
On the other side, Toronto’s Scottie Barnes led all scorers with 28 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, but the Raptors struggled with consistency. RJ Barrett added 20 points, while Jakob Poeltl recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Toronto shot just 38% from the field and was out-rebounded 48-38, a disadvantage that proved costly against a Cavaliers team that prioritizes second-chance points and transition defense.
The victory marked Cleveland’s first playoff series opener win since 2018, when LeBron James led the team past the Indiana Pacers. It also extended the Cavaliers’ home playoff winning streak to four games, dating back to their 2022 first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks.
Elsewhere in the opening night of the 2024 NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers overcame significant injury absences to defeat the Houston Rockets 107-98. Without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles relied on Luke Kennard’s career-high 27 points and LeBron James’ 19 points, 13 assists, and five rebounds. James, now in his 19th postseason appearance, praised his team’s resilience after the win.
“Exactly how it needs to be — a complete team,” James said. “When we’re missing that much firepower, everybody has to do their job — and maybe a little more. We’ve got to help each other on both ends, and I think we did that tonight.”
Maxi Kleber, the German forward signed by the Lakers in free agency, did not play in the game, remaining sidelined by a lingering calf issue.
In the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105, with Nikola Jokić recording another triple-double (25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists). Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points, including six three-pointers, as the defending champions looked to assert dominance early.
The New York Knicks also won their opener, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 113-102. Ariel Hukporti, the German center who played college basketball at Tennessee, did not enter the game, remaining on the bench for the entire contest as New York’s rotation stayed tight.
Looking ahead, Game 2 between the Cavaliers and Raptors is scheduled for Monday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT and streamed via Max. Cleveland aims to build on its defensive discipline and offensive balance, while Toronto will glance to adjust its perimeter defense and get more involvement from Pascal Siakam, who scored just 10 points in Game 1.
The Cavaliers hold a 2-1 all-time playoff series lead over the Raptors, having won their most recent meeting in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals. A win in Game 2 would put Cleveland in a strong position to advance, with the potential to close out the series in Toronto if needed.
For continued coverage of the NBA playoffs, including updated schedules, injury reports, and expert analysis, visit the official NBA playoffs hub.
What do you think of the Cavaliers’ start? Can Dennis Schröder earn more minutes as the series progresses? Share your thoughts in the comments below and spread the word on social media.
