Cavs survive after nearly blowing big lead to beat Magic, 104-103

The Cleveland Cavaliers jumped all over the Orlando Magic in the first half of Thursday's nights game at the Q. However, the Cavs squandered a 23-point lead and the Magic even had a lead in the final minute. Luckily, a pair of late free throws by Isaiah Thomas clinched a Cavs 104-103 victory over the Magic.

The win ends a four-game losing streak by the Cavaliers, serving as just the third win in the team’s last 11 tries.

With the Magic trailing 102-101, and given a chance to take their first lead of the game, Magic center Bismack Biyombo committed an offensive 3-second violation with 1:02 to play. On Cleveland’s ensuing possession, however, LeBron James had a pass stolen by Aaron Gordon. And Orlando made Cleveland pay.

Shelvin Mack made a floater with 31.5 seconds left, putting Orlando ahead 103-102. When the Cavaliers emerged from a timeout, Kevin Love attempted a dunk but had his shot stifled by Biyombo. The Cavs collected the loose ball. Cleveland’s Isaiah Thomas drove toward the hoop, absorbed a foul from Mack and went to the free-throw line with 11.2 seconds left. Thomas made both foul shots to give Cleveland a 104-103 lead. The Magic declined to take a timeout, and Elfrid Payton drove into the lane and missed the shot. Biyombo attempted to tip the ball in, but Biyombo’s try was off-target.

The Cavs have now beaten Orlando 19 times in the last 20 games, including Thursday's 104-103 victory, but it definitely was an ugly win. The Cavaliers dominated — and outhustled — the Magic early in the game.The Cavaliers led by 23 points late in the second quarter primarily as a result of dishing out 19 assists on 25 field goals in the first half to race out to a 67-47 halftime advantage.

After starting six of seven from three, the Cavs hit just four of their last 27 from beyond the arc. As the Cavs are prone to do this season, Cleveland fell asleep in the third. Then, the game suddenly changed.The Magic went on a 20-3 run. Orlando tied the game at 80 with just under a minute left in the third quarter using an 18-3 run over 4:40 to do it. Cleveland led by four after three but they were outscored 33-17 in the quarter and had just one assist on six field goals made.

Isaiah Thomas scored eight of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter. Dwyane Wade added 11 points off the bench. And Love recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick Rose stepped on the floor for the first time since Nov. 7 to start the second quarter.Rose scored 9 points with 3 rebounds in 13 minutes.

Lebron James scored 16 points, hauled in five rebounds and dished out six assists. Before the game, James was chosen as one of the captains for this year's All-Star game after receiving the most votes in balloting by fans, players and media. James will make his 14th straight All-Star start, one behind Kobe Bryant's record. Additionally, he now needs 25 points to become the seventh player in NBA history to reach 30,000. He'll likely reach the plateau on Saturday when Cleveland hosts Oklahoma City.

Elfrid Payton led the Magic (13-32) with 19 points, while Gordon and Evan Fournier each scored 17.

Coach Lue said in the second half the ball stopped moving, bodies stopped moving. "A win's a win but we have to play the game the right way."

COMING UP FOR THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: The Cleveland Cavaliers (27-17) welcome Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder (25-20) to the Q on Saturday for a 3:30 tip-off.