Cavs too powerful as Magic flounder

LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers is fouled by Dewayne Dedmon of the Orlando Magic during the Cavs' 111-76 win on Friday. It was the Cavaliers' 12th straight win against Orlando.
LeBron James (23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers is fouled by Dewayne Dedmon of the Orlando Magic during the Cavs' 111-76 win on Friday. It was the Cavaliers' 12th straight win against Orlando. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

ORLANDO • The Cleveland Cavaliers hardly broke sweat during their most lop-sided win of the National Basketball Association season, a 111-76 victory over the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center on Friday.

LeBron James scored 25 points as the Cavaliers beat the Magic for the 12th consecutive time - their longest winning streak against any team - as they coasted through the second half of a wire-to-wire win.

"We were tough," James said. "When we get out and defend early, we can do some special things out there. It's a mindset. I just wanted to put my staple on the game early."

He hit 10 of 15 shots and added eight assists in only 29 minutes. He had 20 in the first half and sat out the fourth quarter, along with the rest of the Cleveland starters.

The Cavaliers led 83-52 after three periods.

"It was a fun game for us," Cavaliers coach David Blatt said. "It felt good, to have the first unit cheering on the second unit in a happy and fun way finally in the fourth quarter. It's been a while since we had a game like that."

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 last month.

"That's a great team. They were ready and they basically just toyed with us," Magic coach Scott Skiles said. "Things were out of hand a minute into the game. They got out of hand real quick."

Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert made his season debut and looked sharp. He hit five of seven shots for 14 points in 24 minutes.

The Magic got 14 points from Nikola Vucevic, their only starter to reach double figures. Rookie reserve Mario Hezonja had 12 points. No one else scored more than nine. "It was pretty embarrassing to lose like this," Vucevic said.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 13, 2015, with the headline Cavs too powerful as Magic flounder. Subscribe