Cavs pull away in 4th quarter to defeat Magic

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points, Kevin Love had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Orlando Magic 107-93 on Sunday night.

Nikola Vucevic scored 28 points for Orlando, which was coming off wins over Golden State and Indiana. He was 13 of 16 from the field and had 13 rebounds.

D.J. Augustin added 19 points for the Magic, who hold a very slim lead over Charlotte and Miami for first place in the Southeast Division and the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland took over after the game was tied at 81 midway through the final period. The Cavaliers hit seven 3-pointers in the quarter, including two each by Clarkson and Cedi Osman.

Love returned after being held out of Saturday’s 36-point loss to Detroit. The five-time All-Star is still progressing from foot surgery in November and has yet to play on back-to-back days.

Playing his seventh game since returning, Love made two free throws and hit a 3 from the top of the arc during Cleveland’s game-clinching run.

Rookie Collin Sexton had 17 points and Osman scored 14 for the Cavaliers, who have won five of eight. Larry Nance Jr. and Matthew Dellavedova each added 11.

Cleveland scored 17 straight points during a run that began late in the third quarter with Orlando leading 72-63. The Magic tied the game on Augustin’s 3-pointer midway through the fourth.

Vucevic scored 10 points in the third when the Magic pulled ahead after trailing by four points at halftime.

Orlando, trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012, has won eight of 11. The Magic went 6 of 26 on 3s.