NBA: Cavaliers rout Magic for eighth consecutive victory
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) points to the team bench after sinking a 3-point shot against the Orlando Magic during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Ty Jerome scored 20 points off the bench and the Cleveland Cavaliers won their eighth straight game by steamrolling the host Orlando Magic 122-82 in the NBA on Tuesday night.
Evan Mobley had 17 points and eight rebounds, Max Strus made five 3-pointers while scoring 17 points and De’Andre Hunter also had 17 points as Cleveland won for the 12th time in its past 13 games.
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The Cavaliers never trailed and made 19 of 32 3-pointers while shooting 56.2 percent overall. Cleveland played without All-Star point guard Darius Garland (hip).
Paolo Banchero scored 26 points for Orlando, which lost for the second time in three games. Franz Wagner added 19 points.
Orlando’s Cole Anthony departed in the third quarter with a hyperextended left knee.
Donovan Mitchell had 11 points for Cleveland, which held a 47-35 rebounding advantage. Jerome hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range and Hunter made 4 of 5.
The Magic shot 36.7 percent from the field, including a lowly 17.7 percent (5 of 28) from 3-point range. Orlando did hold a 23-11 edge in fast-break points.
Cleveland led by 14 at the break and blew the game open in the third quarter.
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The margin was 13 before the Cavaliers scored 29 of the game’s next 41 points. Hunter made two free throws to cap it and make it 91-61 with 2:17 left in the period.
Cleveland held a 92-66 lead entering the final stanza and kept pulverizing the overmatched Magic. The lead first reached 40 on a basket by Craig Porter Jr. with 3:36 left and topped out at 42.
The Cavaliers scored the game’s first eight points and led 34-16 after the first quarter. Orlando shot 18.2 percent (4 of 22) in the period.
The lead reached 23 on Jerome’s trey with 7:46 left in the second quarter. The Magic answered with a 10-2 burst to pull within 47-32.
Cleveland led 57-43 at halftime with Hunter leading the way with 12 points. Banchero had 15 in the half for Orlando. –Field Level Media
