The moment the Cavaliers knew this game would be theirs, that they would at last break their season-worst losing streak and prove they could win without their All-Star point guard didn’t come when they were down by nine points with 1:04 remaining.
It wasn’t when they lured the Orlando Magic into a five-second violation on an inbounds attempt with 13.9 seconds left, and found a way to earn an extra possession on the way to somehow, miraculously, sending the contest into overtime.
It wasn’t during any of Anderson Varejao’s career-high and franchise record-tying 25 rebounds and 18 points that led the way for Cleveland’s 87-81 overtime escape from the Orlando Magic.
It wasn’t even when eager, try-hard guard Matthew Dellavedova stepped up to take a charge from 290-pound Glen “Big Baby” Davis with 25.4 seconds remaining in the extra period. It was only when the final buzzer sounded on the Cavaliers’ fourth overtime game in their last five home contests, when the scant few left from the diehard 14,248 who braved a snowstorm to watch at The Q erupted and confetti fell.
And even then ….
“I still don’t know how we won this game,” Varejao admitted. “But I’ll take it.”
The Cavaliers will take their first victory in their last seven games, even if it comes with a Magic implosion of mammoth proportions in the final 1:04, when Orlando was up, 79-70. From there, Dion Waiters hit two driving layups – including the game-tying bucket with 0.6 remaining – and sank two free throws. Jarrett Jack knocked in three free throws of his own.
And the Magic missed two field-goal attempts, two free throws, and couldn’t inbound the ball with 13.9 seconds left.
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