Wrap-Up – The Cavaliers didn’t need a dramatic rally or an overtime session or 57 points from Kyrie Irving on Sunday evening. They simply went to work against an Orlando team they’ve owned over the past few years – jumped ahead in the second quarter and pulled away for the 123-108 win on Sunday night at the Amway Center.
Kyrie didn’t go off for 50-plus, but he was still sizzling – going 12-for-15 from the floor, including 5-of-6 from long-distance, to lead everyone with 33 points. Over the last two games, the three-time All-Star has netted 90 points and is 12-for-13 on three-point attempts. He added four boards, four assists and a steal on Sunday.
Kyrie, LeBron & J.R. combine for 79 points .
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LeBron James drives the lane, and thumps home a dunk.
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Watch final game highlights from Sunday's win.
J.R. Smith did some damage from beyond the arc as well, following up with 25 points on 7-for-14 shooting, six of those field goals from three-point range. LeBron James barely missed a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, eight boards and a game-high 13 assists – adding three steals and a block.
James Jones once again came off the bench ready to roll – going 4-of-8 from long-distance to lead Cleveland’s reserves with 12 points.
Offensively, the Cavs continued to hit on all cylinders, topping the 120-point mark for the third straight game and averaging 126 points per contest through the first three games of a four-game trip. As a team, they shot 59 percent on Sunday night – including 51 percent from long-range. When the Cavs weren’t shooting over the Magic, they were running past them – outscoring Orlando on the break, 22-10.
Turning Point – After a sluggish first quarter that saw them trail by two while getting outrebounded, 22-9, the Cavaliers caught fire to start the second period. James Jones drilled a trey to start the scoring and LeBron’s layup capped a 11-0 run.
The Magic hung with Cleveland through the quarter by virtue of 58 percent shooting. The problem for Orlando was that Cleveland shot an eye-popping 80 percent in the period and went into intermission up double-figures. The Magic would get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
By the Numbers – 10 … straight wins by the Cavaliers over the Magic, dating back to January 1, 2013. During that stretch, the Cavs have outscored Orlando by almost 14 points per while dominating them in almost every offensive category. It’s Cleveland’s longest active win streak against any team.
Quotable – Kyrie Irving, on his stellar recent play …
”It’s just a different feel going into the game. We all have confidence as NBA players, but when you have a certain feel…I feel like it’s a body feel more than mental and just going out there and playing. I think like for me it is just about figuring the game out and learning where my spots are and how to be more efficient.”
Up Next – After rolling the Magic on Sunday, the Cavaliers wrap up their four-game roadie on Monday night in Miami – trying to go undefeated on the trip and avenge a Christmas Day loss to the Heat. The Cavs return to The Q on Wednesday night, where they’ll play Brooklyn in the first of two straight home games – the first time they’ll do so since before the All-Star Break. On Friday night, they face the Pacers in Cleveland before getting back on the road for a Sunday afternoon affair in Milwaukee. The Wine and Gold will play every Sunday for the remainder of the regular season.