Magic defeat Cavs to clinch playoff berth
Associated Press
CLEVELAND
The Orlando Magic realize they have a long road ahead of them, but they chose to enjoy a moment of celebration Sunday night.
Orlando clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 100-84 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a win that allowed coach Stan Van Gundy and his players to briefly forget about their team’s growing injury list, which seems to expand by the day.
“A lot of these guys have been in the playoffs every year and you can take it for granted, but it’s nice to have it done with six games left,” Van Gundy said. “This was a really, really, really good win for us. Tonight was very satisfying.”
Jameer Nelson scored 21 points and Orlando led from wire-to-wire despite the continued absence of Dwight Howard, who missed his fourth straight game with a herniated disk in his back.
Van Gundy said before the game he’s preparing to play the rest of the regular season and the playoffs without his star center, who is averaging 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds.
Forward Hedo Turkoglu (facial fracture) has missed the last five games, leading Van Gundy to say he would consider it a bonus if the two players are available for the postseason.
Orlando took another injury hit in the first quarter when Glen Davis, who had played well at center with Howard sidelined, sustained a sprained right knee and didn’t return. He will undergo a further examination Monday prior to the Magic’s home game with Philadelphia.
“He hyperextended his knee, so my guess would be that he’d not play,” Van Gundy said. “I haven’t been told anything officially, though.”
“Nobody got discouraged or rattled when ‘Big Baby’ went down,” Nelson said. “We just executed well, and when we take care of the basketball, we get good shots.”
While Orlando could go into the playoffs without several key weapons, its players chose to feel good about themselves Sunday.
Jason Richardson added 16 points for Orlando, which had five players in double figures. J.J. Redick scored 13.
Antawn Jamison led the Cavaliers with 21 points. Donald Sloan scored a career-high 15.