Cavaliers 111, Magic 76
ORLANDO -- Forward LeBron James scored 25 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic for the 12th consecutive time, coasting to an easy wire-to-wire 111-76 victory Friday night.
James hit 10 of 15 shots and added eight assists. He sat out the fourth quarter after Cleveland took an 83-52 lead through three.
Center Timothy Mozgov scored 17 points and forward Kevin Love had eight points, a game-high 13 rebounds and six assists. Guard Matthew Dellavedova had 12 points and six assists. Reserve James Jones hit four of eight shots from 3-point range for 15 points as Cleveland improved the Eastern Conference's best record to 15-7.
The Magic (12-11) never challenged for the lead after Cleveland scored the game's first five points. It was the Magic's worst loss this season, eclipsing the 14-point defeat in Cleveland in November.
Cavs guard Iman Shumpert made his season debut and scored 14 points in 24 minutes. They were without starter J.R. Smith, who remained in Cleveland with a flu-like illness.
The Magic got 14 points from center Nikola Vucevic, their only starter to reach double figures in scoring. Rookie reserve Mario Hezonja had 12 points. No one else scored more than nine
Cleveland shot 56.9 percent from the field (41 of 72) and outrebounded the Magic, 45-30.
After James scored 20 points in 18 minutes and the Cavs took a 53-37 lead at halftime, they led by as many as 34 during the third.
James hobbled off the court at the end of the first period when he stepped on the foot of teammate Tristan Thompson and rolled his ankle. He was back in the game, though, three minutes into the second quarter.
James got hit in the face later in the second period with a pass by Orlando's Andrew Nicholson, and he fell to the floor shaking his head looking stunned. He then scored the next 11 points for the Cavaliers, giving them a 51-31 lead.
NOTES: Cavs G Iman Shumpert made his season debut on Friday night after missing the first 21 games with a wrist injury sustained in training camp. He said Friday morning not to expect anything special. "If my timing isn't all the way there, that's OK," Shumpert said. "At least I'm going to bring energy." ... Cavs PG Kyrie Irving is traveling with the team and could make his season debut on Tuesday in Boston. ... Cavs F LeBron James is leading the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring (8.9 ppg). "I'm playing at a high level," James said Thursday. ... Former Cavs F John "Hot Rod" Williams died Friday after battling prostate cancer. Williams, 53, spent nine seasons (1986-95) in Cleveland. ... The Magic lead the NBA with seven games (3-4) this season decided by three points or less. ... Magic coach Scott Skiles was asked before the game if he thought the unbeaten Golden State Warriors could break Chicago Bulls' record for wins in an NBA season. "To me, it looks like they could win 82," he said. ... Longtime Magic executive and prolific author Pat Williams had his 100th book published this month. And it might be his best. The title: "Extreme Winning, Keys to Unlocking the Winner Within You."