Cavs blow big lead, end Magic 104-103

CLEVELAND — There was none of the usual postgame chatter or music in the Cavaliers locker room.

The mood was somber and quiet, not the same place.

“Right now we’re in Strugglesville,” LeBron James said. “But it felt like a win. We needed it. Definitely.”

Isaiah Thomas made two free throws with 11 seconds left and Cleveland came up with a defensive stop in the frantic final seconds after blowing a 23-point lead to beat the Orlando Magic 104-103 on Friday, Philippine time, and snap a four-game losing streak.

After Thomas made his shots, Orlando’s Elfrid Payton missed a contested layup with three seconds left. The three officials ruled there was an inadvertent whistle and held a jump ball at midcourt.

Magic forward Aaron Gordon grabbed the toss and sank a 45-footer as the horn sounded and Cleveland’s crowd shrieked in disbelief. But Gordon committed a jump-ball violation with the move and Cleveland only had to inbound the ball to come away with a victory following a crazy and exhausting final sequence that left everyone dazed.

James committed six turnovers and went 2 of 8 from the free-throw line but closed in on 30,000 career points, Thomas scored 21 and came through in crunch time and the Cavs got their fourth win in 13 games.

“Obviously we know we’ve been struggling as of late,” James said. “We’re just trying to figure out how we can put two halves together. Obviously we had a great first half on Monday (against Golden State), great first half today and the same result. So we’ve got to keep pushing, keep watching film and seeing ways we can be better.”

James scored 16 and now needs 25 to become the seventh player in NBA history to reach 30,000. He’ll likely reach the plateau on Saturday when Cleveland hosts Oklahoma City.

The Cavs were rolling to a rare, easy win before they went cold from the outside and were outscored 33-17 in the third quarter by the Magic, who have dropped 17 of 19. Cleveland went 1 for 17 on 3-pointers in the second half.

Payton scored 19 and Gordon 17 for Orlando, which felt a few calls should have gone their way in the final seconds.

Cavs guard Derrick Rose returned after missing more than two months with ankle injuries and scored nine points in 13 minutes.

Rose deepens Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue’s rotation and the former league MVP gives the Cavs another proven scorer. AP SOME 4,500 athletes and sports officials are expected to arrive in Abra province’s capital town of Bangued for the 2018 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association sports meet on February 4-9.

Participants of the annual school-based sports event are from Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Baguio City and host Abra.

Dr. Agustin Gumuwang, chief of Education Support Services of the Department of Education–Cordil- lera Administrative Region, told reporters during the weekly Kapihan it’s all systems go for the regional sports meet.

Twenty-six events will be contested by student-athletes from the elementary and high school divisions.

In line with the government’s program to strengthen grassroots sports, two indigenous sports – “kadang-kadang” and “bunong-braso” will be played. There will also be sports events designed for the differently-abled persons.

Gumuwang, who represented DepEdCAR regional director May Eclar in the series of technical coordination meetings in Abra, said that all sports facilities are ready, except for the main sports complex, especially the track and field oval and swimming pool where finishing touches are being done to meet standards in time for the event.

The senior DepEd official said billeting quarters for the delegates are in place. They will be housed in different public school facilities near the main sports arena and other venues.

Gumuwang said host Abra has put premium on security and peace and order to ensure the successful staging of the sports event.

Many student-athletes are discovered in the CARAA meet for future educational scholarships or membership in the national training pool, as well as a chance to represent the country in international sports competitions. PNA