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Magic visit Cavs looking for statement win

Mar 17, 2009 - 8:39 AM By Justin Einhorn Stats Senior Writer

Orlando (49-17) at Cleveland (53-13), 7:00 p.m. EDT

CLEVELAND (AP) -- This is the Orlando Magic's best chance yet to prove they truly are title contenders.

Often overlooked in the Eastern Conference as the focus has remained on the two teams ahead of them, the Magic could change all that by becoming only the second visiting team all season to win in Cleveland.

Or the Cavaliers will just boost their case as the team to beat in the East.

One of the most intriguing games of the final month of the season takes place Tuesday night as LeBron James and Dwight Howard try to carry their teams to a key victory at Quicken Loans Arena.

"They're a very good road team. We're a very good home team," James said. "We're looking forward to the challenge and I bet those guys are looking forward to the challenge also."

While Cleveland is a league-best 29-1 at home, Orlando has the best road record in the East at 23-10.

"We know how good of a team we are at home," James said. "We take it personal and want to win every game on our home court."

Particularly this one.

Orlando is one of the few teams that has had the Cavaliers' number in recent years, winning seven of the last nine meetings and three straight. The Magic also have won three in a row at Cleveland.

The Cavaliers are 14-2 since February 10 to soar past Boston to the top of the conference and share the league's best record with the Los Angeles Lakers, the only visiting team to win at Quicken Loans Arena this season.

While Boston has struggled a bit lately with Kevin Garnett sidelined, falling 3 1/2 games back of the Cavs, the Magic have won seven of eight and are within four of the East leaders. Orlando pulled off a road win over the Garnett-less Celtics during that stretch, but a victory Tuesday would arguably be its most impressive of the season.

The Magic won the only meeting with Cleveland this season, 99-88 on January 29, but that game was in Orlando and Cavs starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West were out. Both are expected to play in the rematch.

This time, the Magic will be the ones missing a key contributor with All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson out for the season, though they did get Rafer Alston at the trade deadline and it appears he's become more comfortable in the offense.

Alston has averaged 17.0 points in the last two games, shooting 13-of-22 from the field, but it's Howard who continues to shine. He had 28 points and 20 rebounds Sunday in a 105-87 victory over Utah.

"His effort lately, has been very, very good," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "He's coming out and playing with great energy and intensity. When he does that, it sets the tone."

Jazz forward Carlos Boozer suggested after the game that Howard, the league leader in rebounds and blocks, should be considered an MVP candidate, though it appears to be a race between James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.

Two days after scoring 51 points in a win at Sacramento, James flirted with his fourth triple-double in five games as he had 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a 98-93 win over New York on Sunday.

"I'm always team first," James said. "Individual accolades come when a team is successful. This is a team game. You shouldn't be judged individually."

One of his poorer games of the season offensively came against Orlando, as he had 23 points but shot 10-of-27 from the field.

Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds in that game while his presence in the post helped open up the perimeter. Orlando hit 11 3-pointers, the fifth straight game it made at least 10 3s against Cleveland - a stretch during which it's averaged 106.4 points.

The Cavs are allowing a league-low 91.3 points per game.