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 LeBron James used a heated exchange in the third period with
unheralded forward Tobias Harris -- and the subsequent double
technical foul -- to ignite his game and lead the Cleveland
Cavaliers to a 98-89 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
James scored 29 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter when
brought the Cavaliers back to life and put a quick end to any
thoughts of a Magic upset.
The Magic (11-21) had led by 10 points in the second period and nine
points in the third before James shifted the Cavaliers into a higher
gear.
"I was in the chill mode before, but the chill mode was deactivated
after that, absolutely," James said. "I have zero problem with him
(Harris). I don't know what problem he has with me."
The incident came with 5:27 remaining in the third after James had
missed a 3-pointer and the Magic corralled the rebound. The two
started talking, words grew heated and others separated the two when
the technical was called.
 "I know we got into a little talking, but that's just part of the
game," Harris said. "I'm not going to back down from anyone. That's
my game."
Neither would say afterward exactly what was said, or why they said
it.
James immediately followed the incident with a steal and a 3-point
play for the 65-64 lead.
"It might have fired him up a little bit," Cavs coach David Blatt
said. "But LeBron came to play. He's great all the time. He's the
best player in the world. It's what he does. When he decides to lift
us, he lifts us."
James scored the last eight points for the Cavs in the final 3:08,
making sure they held the lead.
Forward Kevin Love had 22 points and seven rebounds, although didn't
play in the fourth quarter when the game was won. The Cavs were
smothering the Magic defensively without him, so he remained on the
sideline.
Center Tristan Thompson added nine points and a game-high 13
rebounds. Reserve Dion Waiters contributed 17 points.
Harris had 16 points to lead the Magic. Evan Fournier scored 15.
Victor Oladipo added 13 points and eight assists, and center Nikola
Vucevic had 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Cavs (18-11) trailed for much of the game until James began to
dominate late, hitting a three-point play for a 95-89 lead. James,
who had 30 points on Thursday in a loss to the Miami Heat, added
eight assists and five rebounds.
 The Cavs were without point guard Kyrie Irving, who bruised a knee
Thursday night in Miami. They already were without center Anderson
Verejao, who is lost for the season after undergoing Achilles'
tendon surgery.
Cleveland looked sluggish until James took charge at the end. He
started the fourth quarter on the bench with 14 points and the Cavs
trailing by four. Guard Mike Miller hit his third 3-pointer to give
the Cavs a 84-80 lead midway through the quarter. James and Thompson
followed with consecutive three-point plays.
The Magic had played well in the first three periods, but they
struggled for the second consecutive game in the fourth quarter when
they scored just 14 points. Both Magic guard Oladip and Elfrid
Payton finished with five turnovers.
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"I don't think we got tight down the stretch," Magic coach Jacque
Vaughn said. "How many possessions at the end of the game was the
ball in LeBron's hands and he made the play for himself, or for his
teammates?"
Although each team scored 22 points in the third quarter, it was
dominated by runs. Miller, who was scoreless in the first half, hit
two 3-pointers early in the third quarter for 62-60 Cavs lead.
Forward Channing Frye and Fournier hit back-to-back 3-pointers as
part of a 10-0 run late in the third quarter for a 74-65 Magic lead.
The Cavs, though, closed the quarter with a 6-1 run.
The Magic led 53-49 at halftime after hitting 22 of 37 shots from
the field (60 percent) and consistently outhustling the Cavs.
Fournier made 4 of 5 shots from the field and had 12 points. Harris
scored nine points and reserve center Dewayne Dedmon had eight at
the intermission.
Reserve guard Ben Gordon sparked the Magic to start the second
quarter when he scored seven points in 2:06. Love led all scorers in
the first half with 17 points, including 13 in the first quarter.
Waiters had 13 points in the second quarter, all after the Cavs had
fallen behind 39-29.
James had 10 points and three assists at halftime but also had three
turnovers and missed six of his 10 shots from the field.
NOTES: Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving missed his first game of the season
with a bruised left knee that he sustained Thursday night in Miami.
Irving tested the knee during pregame before making the decision. He
was replaced by Matthew Dellavedova, the second-year guard from St.
Mary's (Calif.), who got his first start. ... The Cavs also moved
Tristan Thompson into the starting lineup instead of Shawn Marion,
using him to defend Magic C Nikola Vucevic. ... The Cavaliers handed
the Magic their worst loss of the season (32 points) in Cleveland in
November. ... The Magic assigned rookie G Devyn Marble, who had
played in only five games this season, to the Erie BayHawks of the
NBA Development League. ... The Cavs came into the game having
beaten the Magic eight consecutive times, their longest current
winning streak against any opponent. ... Magic G Victor Oladipo
played for the first time without the protective mask that he wore
since returning Nov. 12 from a facial fracture.
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