National Basketball Association

Cavs barely avoid worst loss of LeBron Era

Published Apr. 4, 2009 9:18 a.m. ET

foxsports

Never in LeBron James' entire basketball life could he recall being down by more than 40 points.

Not in the NBA. Not in high school. Not even playing pickup basketball as a kid.

The Orlando Magic gave him a first.

Dwight Howard had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Magic rode a strong second-half start to go ahead by 41 points and hand the Cleveland Cavaliers their most lopsided loss of the season with a 116-87 blowout Friday night.