Magic 81 - 87 Cavaliers
Final - OT
  for this game

Cavs aim to stop slide versus Magic

Jan 2, 2014 - 3:37 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to halt a six-game slide Thursday night when they welcome the Orlando Magic to Quicken Loans Arena.

Cleveland hasn't won since a home overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 20. In the meantime, the Cavs have indefinitely suspended starting center Andrew Bynum and dropped three in a row at the Q, where they are 8-7 on the season.

On Tuesday, the Cavaliers extended their losing streak, but on the road, falling to the Central Division leaders, the Indiana Pacers, 91-76.

Anderson Varejao had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Dion Waiters scored 12 and Kyrie Irving added 10 points and five assists for the Cavaliers.

Irving was helped off the court late in the third quarter after suffering what appeared to be a left knee injury, but returned at the start of the fourth quarter.

"I thought the worst happened. I continued to play but I felt something pop in my knee and I was falling down around all over the place," Irving said. "It was a painful experience. When I went back out it still didn't feel right."

Irving underwent an MRI which revealed a bone bruise. The All-Star guard won't miss any significant time, although he is listed as questionable for Thursday night.

The Magic saw a two-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday with a home loss to the Golden State Warriors. Mark Jackson's squad invaded the Magic Kingdom and left with a 94-81 victory.

Golden State built a 23-point lead at halftime, but the Magic did take the final 24 minutes by 10 points.

"There's a lot of learning to do, so much learning to do. I feel like we make steps and then we take steps backwards, that's everybody though, in every direction." said Orlando forward Glen Davis.

Arron Afflalo netted 15 and Jameer Nelson had 11 points and six assists for Orlando, which has lost four of its last six. Davis added 10 points in the defeat.

The Magic only committed nine turnovers in the loss, but shot 38 percent from the field, 26 percent from long range and 61.5 percent from the free-throw line.

The Magic host the Miami Heat on Saturday, then embark on a five-game western road trip.

Cleveland topped the Magic by nine in Orlando on Dec. 13 and has won four straight in this series. The Magic are 7-4 in their last 11 as the visitor against the Cavs.






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