Magic 81 - 87 Cavaliers
Final - OT
  for this game

Waiters, Varejao vault Cavs over Magic in OT

Jan 3, 2014 - 4:14 AM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Dion Waiters made the tying layup with under a second left in regulation and Anderson Varejao scored the last six points of overtime, leading the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers to an 87-81 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday.

The Cavaliers, playing without point guard Kyrie Irving, trailed by 10 points with 1:34 left in regulation and used an 11-1 run to tie it. Waiters scored six during the run, including the last four, and Jarrett Jack made all three free throws after Jameer Nelson fouled him on a 3-point attempt.

On the tying play, Waiters dribbled past Arron Afflalo on the left side and scored the layup with his right hand with 0.6 ticks left on the clock to make it 79-79. Nelson missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer and the Magic only made one shot in overtime.

Varejao scored six after that and the Cavs snapped their season-long six-game losing streak with their fifth win in a row over the Magic.

"This one's going to hurt for a little bit," said Magic coach Jacque Vaughn.

Irving missed a game for the first time this season because of a left knee contusion he suffered Tuesday against Indiana. Varejao had 18 points and tied a Cavaliers record with 25 rebounds. Waiters added 17 points, Tristan Thompson scored 16 and C.J. Miles and Jack both had 14.

Waiters said he was just trying to be aggressive on his game-tying layup.

"I just wanted to get to the rim, either get a layup or get fouled," he said. "I just took what they gave me."

Glen Davis scored 16 points with 13 rebounds to lead the Magic, who have lost two in a row. Nelson added 14 points with nine assists.

Nelson had eight points in the third quarter, including a 3 during an 11-4 run that gave the Magic a five-point lead. Davis scored the other eight points.

Later, a 9-0 run to end the quarter pulled Orlando out of a four-point hole and gave it a 62-57 lead going into the fourth. Nelson sparked that surge with a 3.

Orlando had a 23-19 lead after the first quarter but the Cavaliers used a 9-0 run to move in front.

Jack sparked the surge with a 3-pointer and Waiters capped it with a finger roll to make it 35-32 Cleveland. The Cavs led 41-39 at halftime.

Game Notes

Before their recent success in the series, the Cavs had lost 10 straight to Orlando ... The Magic started a stretch where they are playing six of seven games on the road. The only home game in that time is their next one, against Miami on Saturday ... The Cavs are at Brooklyn on Saturday.






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