NBA playoffs 2024 -Cavaliers

By virtue of playing the only Game 7 of the first round, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic will take center stage Sunday (1 p.m. ET, ABC).

Although neither team will be favored to beat the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, winning this series would be immensely meaningful for two teams that have spent much of their recent past in the lottery, including both making a top-five pick in 2021.

Orlando hasn’t won a playoff series since 2010, and while Cleveland is just six years removed from the last of four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, the franchise’s most recent series win that didn’t include LeBron James came in 1993.

After the two teams traded double-digit home victories in the first four games of the series, the past two finishes have been thrilling. Game 5 saw the Cavaliers survive at home when Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner‘s game-tying attempt in the final seconds. The Magic followed by coming back from a five-point deficit entering the fourth quarter Friday to tie the series and force Game 7 despite a 50-point performance from All-Star Donovan Mitchell.

What could decide the outcome of Sunday’s game and who advances? Let’s break down the key storylines and trends, including the health of Cleveland center Jarrett Allen.