Orlando @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2019 ) Orlando 116, Cleveland 104

The Orlando Magic look to continue an offensive surge, extend their winning streak to a season-high four games and return to .500 when they visit the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The Magic (10-11) set a season-best with 127 points in a win at Washington on Tuesday and topped that 24 hours later with a 128-114 triumph at home against Phoenix as forward Aaron Gordon scored a season-high 32.

Orlando, which has already beaten the Cavaliers twice this season and won five of the last six meetings, is 4-3 since losing All-Star center Nikola Vucevic to an ankle injury that is expected to keep him out a few more weeks. “We’ve had to kind of reinvent ourselves, find different looks and we’re doing a really, really good job of moving the ball,” Magic guard Evan Fournier, who is averaging 26.6 points the last five games, told reporters. “We just have a really good rhythm right now.” Cleveland has dropped four in a row and 10 of its last 11 contests after giving Eastern Conference leader Milwaukee all it could handle in a loss last Friday before being routed by Detroit 127-94 at home Tuesday. “You got to keep pushing forward,” 6-9 power forward John Henson told the Plain Dealer. “Stay positive, hold onto the rope and don’t flinch as coach (John Beilein) says. We are going to keep trekking this path. We’re not where we want to be, but the way the East is setting up … a three or four-game win streak can put you right back in the mix.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (10-11): Fournier leads the team in scoring (19.8) and has shot at least 60 percent in each of the last three contests while Gordon (13.8) is starting to warm up after a cold start with 50 points in the past two games. Forward Jonathan Isaac leads the active players in rebounds per game (7.3) and second-year center Mo Bamba registered his first double-double of the season Wednesday with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, 11 rebounds and four blocks. “Tonight might have been his best game,” coach Steve Clifford told reporters of Bamba. “He’s in a routine and he does a good job with it. He’s made good progress since last year.”

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (5-15): Cleveland allowed Detroit to shoot 54.3 percent from the field while watching the Pistons drain 18-of-35 from 3-point range in Tuesday’s loss, when it was outscored 65-40 in the middle quarters. “It’s really a tough one for us,” Cavaliers All-Star forward Kevin Love told reporters after the setback. “We were pretty happy with most of the game (against Milwaukee, 119-110 defeat) and how we played. (Tuesday) we came out and laid an egg.” Guard Collin Sexton leads the team in scoring (18.1) after averaging 19 the past five games and forward Tristan Thompson (13.9 points, 10.6 rebounds) boasts double-doubles in three straight contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cleveland rookie SG Kevin Porter Jr. had 12 points and a season-best seven rebounds Tuesday against Detroit.

2. Orlando PG D.J. Augustin, who leads the team in assists (4.6), has scored 35 points combined the last two games.

3. Cavaliers G Jordan Clarkson, who averages 14 points, is just 10-of-30 from the field the past three contests.

PREDICTION: Magic 110, Cavaliers 98