James' triple-double helps Cavs snap skid vs. Magic
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Lebron James recorded a triple-double with 24 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a troubling three-game losing streak by beating the Orlando Magic, 116-104, Saturday night at the Amway Center.
James recorded his second consecutive triple-double, his career-high ninth of the season and the 51st of his career. The Cavs (43-21) never trailed in the second half, although the Magic (24-43) tied it once in the third quarter.
James led a well-balanced attack with seven players scoring in double figures. Kyrie Irving had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Iman Shumpert had 15 points. Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
J.R. Smith scored 11 points and hit three of seven 3-pointers in 20 minutes. Deron Williams scored 10 points, including seven in the fourth quarter. Channing Frye scored 12 points.
Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 20 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Evan Fournier scored 15 points. Aaron Gordon had 16 points. Terrence Ross had 11 points.
The Cavs play against the Rockets in Houston on Sunday.
The Cavs hit 15 of 39 from 3-point range, while the Magic managed just 4 of 21 from long distance.
C.J. Watson scored seven consecutive points for the Magic midway in the fourth, cutting the deficit to just three points. Williams answered by scoring five consecutive points for the Cavs and the Magic never seriously challenged again.
The Cavs took an 87-79 lead into the fourth quarter after J.R. Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third. Irving had 11 points in the period.
The Magic surged early in the third quarter -- getting a pair of 3s from Fournier -- and tied the game at 63. Richard Jefferson hit a 3-pointer to break the tie, and the Cavs never lost the lead again.
The Cavs led, 59-51, at intermission by hitting 21 of 40 shots (52.5 percent) and getting everyone involved early. At halftime, Shumpert had 12 points, Thompson and Frye 10, Irving 9 and James 8 points. .
The Cavs led by as many as 10 points in the second period after the Magic led, 25-24 after the first quarter.
Shumpert sparked the Cavs early with 10 points in the first five minutes when he hit his first four shots, including a pair of 3s.The Cavs made six of 15 3s before intermission while the Magic missed all seven of theirs from long range.
NOTES: Saturday's victory was the Cavs' 16th consecutive win over the Magic, the longest active streak in the NBA over an individual opponent. Before Saturday, the Cavs were tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which has won 15 straight against the Philadelphia 76ers. ... Cavs G Kyle Korver (sore left foot) missed his second consecutive game. A recent MRI exam revealed inflammation that could keep him out for a week. ... Magic C Nikola Vucevic returned Saturday after missing the previous four games with a sore Achilles. ... According to various reports, the Cavaliers are close to signing free agent C Larry Sanders to replace the recently-signed and quickly-injured Andrew Bogut. ... Cavs C/F Tristan Thompson played in his 434th consecutive game, longest active streak in the NBA and the longest in Cavaliers history. The NBA record is 1,192 consecutive games played by A.C. Green. . ... This was Cavs G J.R. Smith's second game back after missing 36 games with a fractured right thumb. ... James came into Saturday night having won 16 consecutive games against the Magic, spanning both Miami and Cleveland.