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Cavs Crush Magic to Snap Skid

Wrap-Up – That was just what the doctor ordered.

After dropping their previous four contests, the Cavaliers needed a laugher to get themselves back on track. And that’s exactly what they got when the Magic rolled in on Monday night. The Cavs led by double-digits after one quarter, by 18 at intermission and by 23 after three – running away with the 106-74 victory at The Q.

Facing scrutiny by his own toughest critic – himself – LeBron James led everyone with 29 points and 11 assists, putting the squad on his shoulders right from the opening team and willing them to a massive lead before watching the fourth quarter from the Cavaliers’ bench. The 10-time All-Star, who notched 22 of his 29 points before half, went 9-for-17 from the floor and 9-of-11 from the stripe, adding four boards and three steals.

Anderson Varejao followed up with 14 points, six boards and a pair of blocks. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love added a dozen points apiece in the win – with Love adding eight boards and Irving leading both teams with four steals.

Tristan Thompson came off Cleveland’s bench to notch nine points and a team-high 11 boards. Overall, the Cavs reserves – who had been badly outplayed in the previous two losses -- came up big on Monday, combining to outscore Orlando’s second unit, 30-21. Will Cherry was particularly impressive, netting five points, four assists, a pair of boards and a steal in 20 minutes of action.

The Cavs shot 52 percent from the floor, holding the Magic to just 36 percent, while out-running Orlando, 21-6 on the fastbreak. Cleveland held the Magic to just 16 points in the first and final quarter.

GAME LINKS

Turning Point – Despite the big lead after two stanzas, the Cavs came out of the halftime locker room a little flat. The Magic’s Mo Harkless scored on a dunk early in the period to cut Cleveland’s 18-point edge to just a dozen. But Anderson Varejao proceeded to drill three straight jumpers (as Orlando missed three-point attempts on the other end ) and the Cavs quickly re-established their big lead. Orlando wouldn’t get closer than 18 the rest of the way.

By the Numbers8 … straight games that the Cavaliers have beaten the Orlando Magic – after dropping the previous 10. The all-time record for opposing team streaks goes to the Raptors and Bulls from 1999 to 2006 in which Toronto won 16 straight before losing the next 15 straight to Chicago.

QuotableLeBron James, on Monday’s much-needed win at The Q …

”A win always makes things feel better, but we still have a lot of work to do. Tomorrow we’ll see some of the things we did well, see some of the things that we didn’t do so well and we can work on it. It’s a good start.”

Up Next – The Cavaliers have one more home contest before the Thanksgiving holiday – a rematch against the Wizards team that held them to their lowest point total of the season last Friday night. On Saturday night, the Indiana Pacers make their first appearance at The Q as the Wine and Gold wrap up the first month of the season. They open December’s schedule next Monday night against Milwaukee in Cleveland.