Final thoughts: Magic 100, Cavs 84

Lester Hudson provided a few days of excitement, but the experiment might be dying. After averaging 29.3 minutes over a stretch of seven games, he played less than 20 minutes in all three of the Cavs’ weekend games.

Byron Scott said tonight he sat Hudson so he could get a better look at Manny Harris, who scored 10 points off the bench, but turned it over three times.

Hudson has totaled 23 points in his last three games after averaging 23.3 points in his previous four. The concern is that he’s woefully undersized for a guard and has proven to be a liability defensively. So if his shot isn’t falling, what can he provide?

That said, Hudson can really score when he’s going good. And the Cavs need guys who can score. It will be interesting to see if the Cavs sign him for the rest of the season and if he goes to summer league with them in July.

Daniel Orton isn’t very good, but against the Cavs’ bigs, he looked like a star. That’s not a good sign. Orton has been so bad, the Magic declined to pick up his third-year option this summer, making him a free agent. But he had 11 points, four rebounds and five steals against the Cavs, which should be an indictment on their big men more than praise for Orton.

The Cavs will take Monday off, but they’ll fly to Detroit in the afternoon for Tuesday’s game against the Pistons. With seven games left and barring any surprises, they have a legitimate chance to win two of them: Tuesday at Detroit and April 25 when they host the Wizards.

Stats

Cavaliers: Antawn Jamison 21 points, Donald Sloan 15 points*, Alonzo Gee 10 points, Manny Harris 10 points. Magic: Jameer Nelson 21 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, Jason Richardson 16 points, JJ Redick 13 points, Earl Clark 13 points.

Key stat

The Cavs turned the ball over 18 times, giving Orlando 23 points. The Magic turned it over just six times.

Turning point

Orlando scored 12 consecutive points in the second quarter to push the lead to 43-23. The Cavs weren't competitive the rest of the night.

Quotable

"Sometimes we get in the habit of trying to make these home run passes and we just have to make the simple play. At least then we have a chance. That’s 18 opportunities we didn’t have to shoot the ball." -- Byron Scott

Up next

The Cavaliers (20-39) play at the Detroit Pistons (22-38) at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.