Cavaliers have no late magic falling to Orlando 108-104
BY TIMOTHY W. SHIRER SPORTS EDITOR One thing you can count on when you have a young team in sports is you never know what you’re going to get from night to night. On Wednesday Night the Cleveland Cavaliers probably should not have beaten the Philadelphia 76ers, but ended up winning 92-83. On Friday Night the Cavaliers traveled to Orlando to face a struggling Orlando Magic team, a game the Cavaliers probably should win, but they didn't as they faltered in the second half and fell to the Magic 108-104.
The game was tight early as the Cavaliers led after the first quarter 26-24. The Cavaliers Anderson Varajao led all scorers in the game in the first quarter with eight points. Orlando guard J.J. Redick led the Magic with six points through the first 12 minutes.
Cavalier’s rookie Dion Waiters got hot in the second quarter to lead the Cavs with seven points in the quarter and 12 points at the half. The Cavaliers held the Magic to only 21 points in the second quarter while scoring 25 to take a 51-45 lead into the locker room.
Thing did not go as well in the second half for the Cavaliers as the Magic outscored the Cavaliers by 16 points. The Magic shot 52% from the field in the second half led by Jameer Nelson's 12 points in the third quarter. The game was tied 76-76 at the end of the third as the Magic outscored the Cavaliers 31-25 in the period. Nelson did not score again in the game and finished with 22 for the night.
Glenn Davis took over in the fourth quarter for Nelson as Davis had 10 points in the final 12 minutes to lead the Magic to the win as they outscored the Cavaliers 32-28 in the final period to earn the 108-104 victory. Davis finished the game with 16 points. Davis had a scare in the quarter as he flew into the seats going after the ball, knocked a woman out of her seat and to the floor. Davis helped the woman up, gave her a hug and returned to the game with no injuries to either party.
The big difference in the game was the three point shooting of the Magic as they hit 11 of 21 from three point range for 52% as the Cavaliers went 8 for 26 from three point land for an ugly 30%.
Waiters, was the Cavaliers leading scorer on the night finishing with 25 points. The rookie also had five assists. Varajao also had another nice night for the Cavs in the loss. On the night Varajao had 19 points and 17 rebounds and three assists.
The Cavaliers did out rebound the Magic 38 to 36
The Cavs will have no rest as they travel farther south in Florida to play the Miami Heat on Saturday Night at 7:30 at American Airlines Arena.