ORLANDO, Fla. -- After three quarters of torrid shooting Friday night, the Orlando Magic ran out of gas while running headfirst into LeBron James.
Despite being without usual sidekick Kyrie Irving, James asserted himself when it mattered most in lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 98-89 victory over the Magic, who wound up going 1-3 during a four-game stretch of contests at home.
James outscored the Magic by himself in the fourth quarter. While he had 15 points, the Magic managed only 14 on 5-of-21 shooting. They had hit 59.6 percent of their field-goal attempts in taking a 75-71 lead into the final 12 minutes but finished the game below 50 percent.
Irving was out because of a left knee contusion that he suffered in the final minute of the Cavs' loss Thursday at Miami. James' status was somewhat in doubt an hour before tipoff due to left leg tightness similar to what kept him out of a game two weeks ago at Oklahoma City.
The Magic were far more competitive than when they were drubbed 106-74 at Cleveland on Nov. 24, a game which they played without Tobias Harris. While Harris led them with 16 points, he seemed to fire up James when the two jawed at each other during the third quarter in an exchange which resulted in technical fouls on both players.
Evan Fournier had 15 points off the bench, all in the first three quarters. Victor Oladipo, playing for the first time this season without the protective mask he had since fracturing a bone in his face two months ago, had 13 points and eight assists before fouling out in the final minute.
THE TURNING POINT
Three-point plays by James and Tristan Thompson within a 33-second span gave the Cavs a 90-83 lead, their biggest all game to that point.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
James had 19 of his 29 points and five of his eight assists in the second half. All five of those assists came on 3-point field goals.
STAT OF THE GAME
Magic center Nikola Vucevic established a career single-game high in assists with seven. Through three quarters, the NBA's fourth-leading rebounder had more assists (7) than rebounds (5).
WHAT'S NEXT
Saturday night at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
