Game review: Magic (38-19) 101, Cavaliers (43-14) 95
In an exciting game where the lead changed hands several times in the second half, the Magic prevailed for their first win over Cleveland this season as they outscored the Cavaliers 21-10 to end the game. The Cavaliers now have lost 3 games in a row for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Dwight Howard scored 22 points along with 16 rebounds to lead the Magic. The "Big Three" of Cleveland, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, and Antawn Jamison, combined for 72 points.
The Magic led the entire first half with a lead of 25-18 after the first quarter, and had their largest lead of the Game at 46-35 with 3:37 remaining in the second quarter before the Cavaliers cut their deficit to 49-43 at halftime. The Cavaliers completed a 14-0 run in the third quarter for a 54-49 lead, and had their largest lead of the game at 62-55 with just over 7 minutes remaining. The Magic came back to lead 72-71 with just over a minute remaining before the Cavaliers took the lead back 75-74 heading into the fourth quarter. The Magic scored the first 5 points of the fourth quarter to take a 79-75 lead, but then watched as the Cavaliers scored 8 in a row to go ahead 83-79. The Cavaliers had a 85-80 lead with 6:56 remaining before the Magic took control with a 16-3 run to take the lead for good, as the closest the Cavs got after that was 96-93 with 1:16 remaining before the solid finish by the Magic, as the Cavaliers missed 13 of their final 17 shots, while the Magic made their final 7 shots from the field.
Magic leading scorers
Dwight Howard: 22 points (7 of 15 FGs), 8 of 13 FTs), 16 rebounds, 4 blocks, 0 turnovers
Jameer Nelson: 18 points (8 of 13 FGs, 2 of 3 3 PT FGs), 5 assists, 5 turnovers
Rashard Lewis: 15 points (5 of 12 FGs, 2of 6 3 PT FGs), 2 steals
Mickael Pietrus (bench): 13 points (5 of 6 FGs, 2 of 3 3 PT FGs)
Vince Carter: 11 points (4 of 9 FGs)
Overall Game Statistics
FG%: ORL 50.7% (37 of 73) CLE 46.3% (38 of 82)
3 PT FG%: ORL 40% (8 of 20) CLE 18.8% (3 of 16)
FT%: ORL 70.4% (19 of 27) CLE 64% (16 of 25)
REB: CLE 43 (9 offensive) ORL 34 (6 offensive)
AST/TO: CLE 15/14 ORL 13/11
BENCH: CLE 30 ORL 28
Other game notes and stats:
-The Cavaliers' LeBron James finished 33 points (12 of 25 FGs), 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, but did not make a field goal in the fourth quarter until 16 seconds were left and the outcome was already decided
-Shaquille O'Neal added 20 points (9 of 10 FGs) with 5 rebounds for the Cavs, with newcomer Antawn Jamison scoring 19 points (9 of 14 FGs), with 8 rebounds
-In total, James, O'Neal, and Jamison scored 72 of the Cavaliers' 95 points on 30 of 49 FGs; no one else had more than 6 points for the Cavs
-The remaining 7 Cavalier players combined for 23 points on 8 of 33 FGs
-Howard scored just 1 point and took just 1 shot attempt in the fourth quarter for the Magic, but Carter and Nelson each scored 8 points in the fourth
-Howard did not have a single turnover in 43 1/2 minutes
-The Magic did not miss any of their 7 shot attempts in the final 6 1/2 minutes
-The Cavaliers' starting guards (Anthony Parker, Mo Williams), combined for just 8 points on 2 of 13 shooting, while the reserve guards (West, Gibson) combined for 7 points on 2 of 10 shooting
-In total, the 4 Cavaliers' guards scored 15 points on 4 of 23 shooting
-Brandon Bass was the first power forward off the bench for the Magic, scoring 6 points in 11 minutes as Ryan Anderson did not see action
-Pietrus and J.J. Redick combined for 22 points off the Magic bench on 7 for 11 FGs, including 4 of 7 on three pointers
-Jamison fouled out for the Cavaliers, while O'Neal was charged with 5 fouls and Howard with 4 fouls
Here is the complete recap and box score from nba.com.
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 8:02 PM
7 Comments:
At 8:28 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
In the game between the Cavs and Magic 10 days ago, the Magic held a 5 point fourth quarter lead before the Cavs took the game over and won handily; in this game, it was the Cavs who held a 5 point 4th quarter lead before the Magic took over late and came away with the solid win, as the Cavaliers shot just 8 of 23 in the fourth.
James, O'Neal, and Jamison all played very well for the Cavaliers, but they got very little help from anyone else. LBJ was really tired in the fourth quarter, as he was no factor at all scoring just 3 points.
D12 was no factor offensively in the fourth for the Magic, but did Jameer and VC ever come through, hitting clutch basket after clutch basket. Rashard Lewis provided the dagger with his three pointer in the final minute.
The Magic bench, led by Pietrus, Redick, and Brandon Bass, really played well after that clunker on Friday night against the Mavericks; kudos to Coach Van Gundy for giving Bass playing time as Ryan Anderson has really been struggling lately.
The Magic's superior depth really showed in this game, as 8 of the 10 Magic players who played each did a lot to contribute to the victory, while the Cavaliers had no help at all for the "Big Three"; that's why I think the Magic would have a good chance at upending the Cavs in a 7 game playoff series.
That's a long ways off, however.
No question, though, that the Magic and Cavaliers are the top two teams in the East, and they both really put on a good show for the national TV audience.
At 8:30 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
As was the case 10 days ago, any Cavaliers' fans are welcome to post here if they can discuss the game on a reasonably intelligent level; any incoherance, personal attacks or trolling will result in that comment being deleted.
At 11:49 AM,
Big Figure said…
WOW! What a game!
At 12:45 PM,
Tom from Akron said…
Great game by you guys, was a good battle. Howard had a good game and we were reminded something else that we already knew, no one has a chance at slowing down howard on the cavs, unless it is shaq.
Im not saying the cavs lost the game because of officiating, because i realize there was blown calls for both sides...but Jamison's 5th foul should have been a charge. The cavs needed his offense in the fourth quarter and needed him late in the game, he was clearly outside the restricted circle...but i digress. Lebron struggled in the fourth quarter as the offense stagnated once again in the fourth quarter. I do think the cavs are better suited with Jamison in the starting lineup...but that is for brown to decide.
Cannot wait until the playoff series between these two teams. The last two meetings have been heavyweight bouts up until the last 5 or so minutes of the game. I think it is clear that the two best teams in the east played yesterday afternoon against each other. Until next time, good luck magic faithful
-Tom
At 4:15 PM,
Matt said…
I think this game could have gone either way, but Magic defended well at the end, and made shots. Had some shots fallen for CAVs, they could have won the game.
It seems that somebody is listening to us; The coach put Brandon Bass in although I don't agree with zero minutes for Ryan Anderson.
At 4:44 PM,
Tom from Akron said…
I agree, Vinsanity did his best work in clutch time in scoring his points at the end. that, with Nelson's 3 balls that went in were daggers in this game. A 7 game series will be one for the ages this year in the ECF...wish it wasnt only Feb.
-Tom
At 5:44 PM,
Mike from Illinois said…
I saw Cavaliers' coach Mike Brown being interviewed Monday on Jim Rome's show on ESPN.
Brown said something to the effect that even thought the Cavs lost to the Magic, he was encouraged because it's helping him figure out the player rotation for future games.
Tom from Akron... thanks for stopping by to comment and hope that you drop by again in the future.
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