Cleveland, OH (Best E Casino) - Dwight Howard was a force, pouring in 35 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and sinking the game-winning free throw with 5.2 seconds left in overtime as the Orlando Magic held on to top the Cleveland Cavaliers, 117-116.

The Magic won despite 39 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds from LeBron James, who made three free throws with 2.4 seconds left to force the extra session.

Jameer Nelson scored 21 points, tallied 11 assists, and grabbed seven boards for the Magic, who have won six of seven. Rashard Lewis scored 20 points for Orlando.

Drew Gooden had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who have dropped two in a row. Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 18 points and 11 boards, and Daniel Gibson scored 16 points for Cleveland.

James put the Cavs on top, 116-115, with 13 seconds left in the extra session after sinking a jumper from the corner. Howard was fouled on the ensuing possession, though, and made both free throws to give the Magic the one-point edge with 5.8 seconds left.

James took the ball on the following possession, and drove the lane. Hedo Turkoglu stepped in and went for the steal, and the referees called a jump ball with only seven-tenths of a seconds remaining. James lost the tip, and the clock ran out on the Cavs.

Orlando's struggles at the free-throw line gave the Cavs the chance to send the game to overtime. A Nelson layup off of a Devin Brown turnover on the other end of the floor put the Magic up 107-103 with 20.1 seconds left. James came right back, cutting through the Orlando defense to make it a 107-105 game with 17 seconds left.

Keith Bogans had a chance to ice the game, but he missed both free throws, keeping Cleveland alive. This time James went to the post, drawing a double team before passing to an open Sasha Pavlovic in the corner. Pavlovic's three was short, though, and again the Magic had a chance to seal the game at the line.

Howard missed one-of-two, though, and the Magic lead was 108-105 with 5.2 seconds left. Turkoglu tried to foul James on the ensuing inbounds before he could launch a game-tying three-pointer, but James was able to get up in the air facing the basket and drew the shooting foul, earning a chance to tie the game at the line. The Cavs star calmly sank all three free throws with 2.4 seconds left, sending the game to overtime.

The Cavs held a 56-55 lead at the half, but trailed 81-79 entering the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

Cleveland has trailed entering the fourth quarter of each of its nine games this season. The Cavs have come back to win four of them...Cleveland outrebounded Orlando, 50-42...Turkoglu scored 13 points, and Bogans finished with 11 points for the Magic.