Magic beats Cavaliers to clinch playoff slot
Jameer Nelson scored 11 of his 21 points in the third quarter as the visiting Orlando Magic clinched a playoff spot with a 100-84 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.Nelson added nine assists and seven rebounds for the Magic (35-25), who moved into a fifth-place tie with Atlanta in the Eastern Conference after the Hawks dropped a 102-86 decision to Toronto.Jason Richardson had 16 points while J.J. Redick and Earl Clark added 13 apiece for Orlando, which hit 11 3-pointers in the one-sided victory.Antawn Jamison, back from a one-game rest, led the Cavaliers (20-39) with 21 points. Donald Sloan added a career-best 15.The Magic frustrated Cleveland throughout the opening half, holding the home team to a scant 30 points. The Cavaliers equaled that total in the third quarter alone, but couldn’t keep Orlando off the scoresheet – Nelson had eight points in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the session, then knocked down a long 3-pointer for good measure with 3:34 remaining.Richardson added back-to-back 3s at the end of the quarter, sending the Magic into the fourth with a 74-60 advantage. Cleveland didn’t get within single digits the rest of the way.Orlando center Glen Davis left the game early with a sprained right knee and did not return.
Loading ...
