Cleveland Cavaliers 97, Orlando Magic 93

It was an up-and-down affair (at least for the 10 minutes of the fourth quarter that I was able to listen to) that ended with LeBron James proving why he is the MVP.

James hit a three to give Cleveland a three-point lead with 40-plus seconds left. Then after a missed shot from Rashard Lewis (I believe), James drew a foul on Courtney Lee and calmly sank the free throws for a four-point win.

This was a battle of two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and it lived up to its billing. Going to the very end and a true toss up until the final buzzer.

For Cleveland this was a gigantic victory. The Magic have had the Cavaliers' number in the past few years and this win is tantamount -- I would think -- to the Magic topping the Pistons.

I doubt James and Co. fear any team, but I am sure they do not want to see the Magic in the second round and then have to face the Celtics. This was big for them confidence-wise if they fall out of the top spot in the East and it kept them in the top spot.

It looks like the Magic are going to be resigned to the third seed in the conference and a date with Boston in the second round... if they can get out of the first round, which is not for sure with Detroit in the six spot.

If you are an Orlando fan, you have to hope Cleveland slips to No. 2 for a more favorable second round matchup. This was a close game.

But ultimately poor execution at the end did the Magic in. There was a few rushed shots by Hedo Turkoglu and Lewis that helped Cleveland maintain a slim lead. The nail in the coffin was Dwight Howard's three-second violation on the Magic's possession down two points with 30 seconds left.

What confused me most is thtat Orlando was not willing to get the ball into Howard late in the game down one point. Look, this might be my philosophy, but you always get the ball to Howard late in games. This is the time of year, Stan Van Gundy should show faith in his big man to win these types of games late. If he does not do it now, he sure as hell what do it in the postseason.

Howard cannot be relegated to an offensive rebounding option late in games. He needs to be involved. The fact they did not go to him and think he could make one out of two free throws with a one-point deficit is not encouraging.

That is just how I feel.

Orlando did not execute well late. They took the lead on a steal by Rafer Alston and finish by Courtney Lee. But the possession before that, Turkoglu air-balled a 3-pointer. Not exactly confidence building.

This was clearly a game you don't mind losing, but a game Orlando could have won. It seems the Magic are entrenched into the third seed and are beginning to fine tune things for the postseason.