Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro’s stat line on Sunday against the Orlando Magic included eight points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 33:04 of court time.

But after the Cavaliers rallied to defeat the Magic 106-94 in Game 7 of their first-round series to advance in the NBA playoffs, the former Auburn standout’s coach and teammates had plenty of praise for his play.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about what Isaac Okoro did on the defensive end of the floor,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He was unbelievable on the defensive end of the floor, something that I think a lot of times, Isaac gets overlooked. But he’s one of the most elite defensive players in our league and doesn’t get enough credit for it.”

Okoro’s assignment in Game 7 on Sunday was Paolo Banchero. Banchero scored 38 points, but he shot 10-of-28 from the floor and lost five turnovers.

The Cavaliers put Okoro on Banchero even though he gives up 5 inches and 25 pounds to the Orlando all-star and 2022 No. 1 draft choice.

“Looking back from Isaac’s rookie year, we put him on everybody, from point guards to power forwards to everybody, and he got indoctrinated the tough way,” Bickerstaff said. “He took some blows, but he never backed down, so we’ve got a level of trust in Isaac that he’s going to compete his tail off and you’re going to have to beat him. He’s not going to allow you to beat him. You’re going to have to go out and you’re going to have to go and take it from him. There’s not many guys that can do that.”

Okoro led the Cavaliers in plus/minus on Sunday as Cleveland outscored Orlando by 24 points when he was on the floor. Banchero finished at minus-7.

“We knew we had to make an adjustment from the last game and try to just wear Paolo down,” Cavaliers guard Darius Garland said, “so Isaac stepped up to the challenge. I mean, he’s always going to be like that on the defensive end. That’s what he do. It was nothing that we haven’t seen. We’ve seen him for three, four years now, and we really needed it in Game 7. He really pulled up his shorts and took a challenge tonight, so hat’s off to him. We need another performance in a couple more days.”

In its second playoff appearance since 2018, Cleveland advanced past the first round for the first time since that season, when the LeBron James-led Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

Cleveland opens a best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics at 6 p.m. CDT Tuesday at TD Garden in Boston. TNT will televise the game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.