The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cavaliers disappear vs. Magic
Orlando leads by as many as 37 points on the way to an easy victory
Nikola Vucevic scored 23 points and the Magic snapped a 17-game losing streak against the Cavaliers, routing the defending Eastern Conference champions, 11493, on Oct. 21 at Quicken Loans Arena.
Orlando’s first win over Cleveland since Nov. 23, 2012, came in convincing fashion. The Magic never trailed and built a 21-point lead late in the first quarter. Orlando led, 36-18, after the first, hitting 14 of 24 from the field.
The Magic, which made 14 of 35 3-pointers, took its biggest
lead, 106-69, midway through the fourth quarter when both teams cleared their benches.
LeBron James scored 14 points in the first quarter and finished with 22 as the Cavaliers lost for the first time in three games.
Cleveland trailed, 56-45, at halftime and cut the lead to 6558 midway through the third when James blocked D.J. Augustin’s drive and Dwyane Wade hit a 3-pointer. The Magic answered with a 12-0 run, including a banked-in 30-footer from Augustin and two baskets by Vucevic.
Vucevic, a night after scoring a career-high 41 points in a loss to Brooklyn, was 11 of 16 from the field.
Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue called timeout less than five minutes into the game when Orlando took a 15-4 lead. The Magic continued to build the margin, which reached 4220 early in the second quarter on Bismack Biyombo’s tip-in.
Jonathon Simmons scored 19 points while Evan Fournier added 13 for Orlando.
Iman Shumpert scored 21 points and Kevin Love had 18 for Cleveland.
Derrick Rose missed the game for Cleveland with a sprained left ankle. He twisted his ankle after being fouled by Milwaukee’s Greg Monroe while driving to the basket on Oct. 20.
Tip-ins
MAGIC» F Aaron Gordon (sore left ankle) did some work on the court before the game, but sat out for the second night in a row. . G Elfrid Payton (strained left hamstring) did not play after being injured Friday at Brooklyn. An MRI revealed a mild to moderate strain. No timetable was given for his return. CAVALIERS» Rose’s injury moved Jose Calderon, the only other true point guard on the roster, into the starting lineup. The veteran was pulled five minutes into the game after missing two shots and didn’t start the third quarter when Iman Shumpert ran the offense. Calderon returned in the fourth quarter.