CLEVELAND – Last season, when the Orlando Magic won 42 games and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2012, one of the biggest factors in that stirring success was guard Terrence Ross’ ability to heat up late in games and dig the squad out of fourth-quarter deficits.
On Friday, with the Magic’s offense sputtering, their defense again shaky and them staring at a fourth-quarter deficit, Ross rescued Orlando much the same way he did last season when it had 11 come-from-behind victories in the final period.
Ross scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth period and the Magic got big defensive plays down the stretch from Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Khem Birch to rally to a 93-87 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Field House.