ORLANDO, Fla. -- On a night when the Orlando Magic honored Dennis Scott, they could have used someone to catch fire from 3-point range like he used to do, especially in the fourth quarter.
While the Magic were by no means atrocious from that distance, Victor Oladipo was their only player with a hot hand through the first three quarters. When he began the final period on the bench for more than five minutes, the Magic went cold and never completely recovered in a 109-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Oladipo tied his career high with 26 points, including three 3-pointers in four attempts. But the Cavs, who have now won five of their past six, got 31 points from Kyrie Irving and 21 from Dion Waiters, all but one of which came after halftime.
The game ended with some bad blood between the two teams as Magic forward Andrew Nicholson was ejected with 10.2 seconds to go after a flagrant 2 foul when he shoved Anderson Varejao to the floor. Varejao, who hurt his right knee in a collision with Oladipo during the second quarter, was shaken up but got up under his own power.
Tobias Harris appeared in only his second game of the season for the Magic and his first since Nov. 24. Harris, who suffered a high left ankle sprain during the preseason, converted a three-point play and knocked down a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter. He finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 14 minutes.
The Cavs' road record had been 1-10, with their only victory coming at Washington in overtime.
Down 85-81 after Harris' 3-pointer, the Cavs rattled off the next 14 points. Waiters had three baskets and rookie Matthew Dellavedova knocked down two 3-pointers during that three-minute stretch.
Irving, who was coming off a 37-point showing Tuesday night in a win over New York, almost duplicated that performance. He had 27 points through three quarters and pretty much put the game away with four free throws down the stretch.
The Magic finished 11 of 30 from 3-point range. The Cavs entered the game ranked 27th in 3-point defense on the road (.406) but second in the same category at home (.307).
Sunday night at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m. (FOX Sports Florida).
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
