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AP Photo CDA141, CDA139
CLEVELAND (AP) -The Orlando Magic, despite overcoming another big early deficit, are heading home for a Game 6.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who led by 22 points in the first half, pulled away late in the fourth quarter for a 112-102 victory over the Magic on Thursday night.
That means the Magic’s next chance to close out the Eastern Conference finals will be at home Saturday night.
Just like in Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland, the Cavaliers built a huge lead in the first half.
The Magic won Game 1 107-106, taking the lead for good with 14.7 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Rashard Lewis, and then getting the victory when Cleveland missed two shots to win.
Game 2 saw Cleveland go up by 23 points in the second quarter and the Magic seemed to have the sweep in hand when Hedo Turkoglu hit a 12-footer in the lane with one second to go for a 95-93 lead. LeBron James’ 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Cavaliers the split at home.
When Orlando won both games at home for a 3-1 lead, the Magic had a chance to clinch it on the road.
James would have none of that, scoring 37 points, getting 15 rebounds and 12 assists and dominating the fourth quarter in the win that kept the series going.
The Magic lost to the Cavaliers for just the fourth time in their last 15 meetings.
After shooting 49 percent from the field and 43 percent on 3-pointers through the first four games of the series, Orlando was 8 of 25 on 3-pointers in Game 5. The Magic hurt themselves missing 13 of 41 free throw attempts.
Despite the Cavaliers leading by 22 points in the first half, the Magic had the lead within the first minute of the third quarter and they were ahead 79-78 entering the fourth quarter.
Rafer Alston, who scored a season-high 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting and hitting six 3-pointers in Game 4, couldn’t follow up that performance. He was 1 for 10 from the field, including 1 of 7 on 3s, and finished with three points.
Now the series heads back to Amway Arena, where Orlando has already beaten the Cavaliers twice in this series. One more win will send Orlando to its second finals appearance, the first coming in 1995.
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