Orlando, FL (Best E Casino) - Larry Hughes scored a season-high 40 points, including 23 in the third quarter, to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Orlando Magic, 118-111, at Amway Arena.

LeBron James finished with 29 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which has won two of three. Devin Brown had 11 points off the bench, while Drew Gooden and Ira Newble each chipped in 10.

Hedo Turkoglu had 25 points, while Jameer Nelson had 22 points. Dwight Howard finished with 16 points and nine rebounds for Orlando, which has dropped two in a row in the midst of a five-game homestand.

"That was one of the most disappointing games, if not the most disappointing," Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy said.

Cleveland battled back from a double-digit deficit in the second quarter to draw within three at halftime. The Cavaliers still trailed for most of the third quarter, and with 4:04 left Maurice Evans made a layup to give the Magic a 73-68 lead.

But Hughes, who opened the third quarter with a three, kept Cleveland in the game. On the ensuing possession, he was fouled on a three-point attempt, and made all three free throws to bring Cleveland within two. Less than a minute later, Hughes drained a three to even the game at 75 apiece.

With 2:09 left, after a Keith Bogans layup had put the Magic back up by three, Hughes reeled off nine straight points for the Cavaliers. A jumper to cap his personal run put Cleveland in front, 86-83, with 18 seconds left.

They were his final points of the stanza, giving him 23 in all -- more points in 12 minutes than all but one Magic player scored the entire game. Hughes scored more points in that quarter than he has in all but three games this season.

"I think Larry is one of the most rhythm guys we have in this league," James said. "When he has that rhythm, we have to continue and I have to continue to notice that. I noticed that tonight. Every play was called for him in the second half. Every single play."

Despite his effort, the teams were tied entering the fourth quarter. Cleveland was finally able to take control with a 12-2 run to start the fourth. Hughes capped it with a jumper to put the Cavs in front, 98-88, less than four minutes into the quarter.

"We started the fourth quarter even. And then they got to the free throw line a lot to start the fourth quarter and opened up a little bit of a lead," Van Gundy said. "And our guys, you could see it at timeouts and stuff, just really hung their heads. I thought they quit competing."

The Magic stayed close, and got within four when Turkoglu drained a three to bring Orlando within 99-95 with 5:27 left. But James answered with two consecutive layups -- one a three-point play -- to put the Cavs up nine.

That was enough of a cushion for Cleveland, as Orlando didn't get within seven points again.

Neither team led by more than four points in the first quarter until the Magic ended the stanza on a six-point run. Nelson had four points, and ended it with a layup to put Orlando ahead 28-20 going into the second quarter.

Early in that stanza, a Brian Cook hook shot gave Orlando a 32-22 advantage. But the Cavaliers countered with a 15-4 run to take a 37-36 lead, and Orlando went into halftime with a 55-52 lead.

Game Notes

The Cavaliers have won seven of their last nine road games...Hughes had averaged 16.3 points per game in the last six contests...Orlando shot 48.2 percent from the field, and 10-of-26 from three-point range, but just 19-of-29 (65.5 percent) from the free throw line...Cleveland shot 53.5 percent from the field, and 9-of-14 from beyond the arc.