ORLANDO, FLA.: Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and had five assists while Channing Frye made four 3-pointers in his return to Orlando. The Cavaliers needed all of it Friday in their tough 109-103 victory against the Magic, while surviving a career night from Victor Oladipo in the process.
Oladipo scored a career-high 45 points, the first 40-point game of his career and the most points any player has scored against the Cavs this season. He set a career high through three quarters and ripped through whatever perimeter defender the Cavs used on him — and they used just about everyone.
LeBron James had 18 points, seven rebounds and eight assists after sitting out one game to rest and Kevin Love had 14 points and six rebounds, but didn’t play in the fourth quarter. Love was a game-time decision because he felt sick most of the day.
The Cavs swept the season series and extended their winning streak against the Magic to 14, but this was easily the hardest of the four this season. At one point, the Magic owed their worst home and road losses to the Cavs, but this time they led by 11 in the second quarter and the Cavs never really pulled away.
Frye, acquired from the Magic at the trade deadline in February, shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range on a night the Cavs shot 46 percent (13-of-28) from deep. Frye’s final 3-pointer with 4:05 left extended the lead to 103-94.
The Cavs eventually matched their largest lead of the night at 107-96 on two free throws by Tristan Thompson with 2:57 left.
The Magic rallied again behind Oladipo, however. His 3-pointer with a minute left pulled the Magic to 107-103 and gave him 45 points, surpassing Kyle Lowry’s 43 points in Toronto’s overtime victory against the Cavs for the most points scored by an opponent this season.
Oladipo could’ve been a Cavalier and was a favorite of owner Dan Gilbert entering the 2013 NBA draft. Oladipo went second overall to the Orlando Magic after the Cavs selected Anthony Bennett No. 1 overall. He shot 16-of-22 Friday night, including 6-of-7 on 3-pointers.
The Cavs struggled early with turnovers and ended the night with 19. Oladipo earned the bulk of his points early in transition off Cavs mistakes. Tristan Thompson shined in the fourth quarter, grabbing 10 rebounds in the final quarter and finishing with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.