10-Year Orlandoversary: Magic Top Lakers in Game 3 for Only Finals Win

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As the 2019 NBA Finals gets set for a pivotal Game 5, today marks the 10-year anniversary of a pivotal NBA Finals moment for the Orlando Magic.

The Magic were facing a must-win as they prepared for Game 3 of the 2009 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Orlando had dropped the first two games in Los Angeles, including an overtime heartbreaker in Game 2, and had never won an NBA Finals game as the scene shifted to Amway Arena.

The Magic had never won a Finals game, but that would change with a 108-104 victory. As a team, Orlando shot an NBA Finals record 62.5 percent from the field, but the victory did not come easy.

The Magic shot 75 percent in the first half, but the Lakers actually led 31-27 after a quarter and trailed just 59-54 at the break. The lead after three for Orlando sat at 81-75.

Orlando led by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, but with 2:41 to play, Pau Gasol knocked down a pair of foul shots to tie the game at 99. Over the final stretch, Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus would combine for eight of the Magic's last nine points.

Pietrus' put-back dunk with over two minutes remaining put Orlando ahead for good. Then with the Magic leading 104-102, Pietrus was able to come up with a steal and knock down a pair of free throws after drawing a foul.

Lewis made a jumper with just over a minute to go to increase the Orlando lead to three before knocking down a pair of free throws in the final seconds to ice the game. After getting swept in the 1995 NBA Finals, the Magic were finally in the win column in an NBA Finals game.


Lewis and star center Dwight Howard each scored 21 points to lead the Magic. Guard Rafer Alston added 20 points on an outstanding 8-for-12 from the field. Pietrus and Hedo Turkoglu each scored 18 for Orlando in the victory. Turkoglu led the Magic with seven assists while Howard ripped down a game-high 14 rebounds.

Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 31 points to go with a game-high eight assists. Gasol added 23 points on an ultra-efficient 9 of 11 from the field.

Unfortunately for the Magic, they would drop a Game 4 heartbreaker and ultimately lose the series in five games. It's a decade later and the Game 3 victory over L.A. remains the only NBA Finals win for Orlando in franchise history. It happened on this day 10 years ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

10-Year Orlandoversary: Magic Top Cavs in Game 6 to Clinch Finals Berth

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As the Toronto Raptors get set to make their first NBA Finals appearance, another relatively young NBA franchise celebrated its second Finals appearance on this day one decade ago.

The Orlando Magic held a 3-2 series lead as they returned to Amway Arena to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals on May 30, 2009. By the time all was said and done, the Magic emerged victorious and clinched the series with a 103-90 victory.

Orlando had won Games 3 and 4 at home and rallied from 22 points down to take a lead into the fourth quarter in Game 5, but Cleveland left with a 112-102 win. In Game 6, the Magic started strong.

Orlando never trailed and led by as many as 10 in the first quarter, but a 3-pointer by Wally Szczerbiak and a layup by LeBron James closed the gap to 30-25 at the end of one. The second quarter is where the Magic would seize control with a 21-9 run to close the half and take a 58-40 lead into the locker room.

Cleveland was able to get as close as 10 in the third quarter, but a 12-2 run spanning from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth shut the door on any comeback hope the Cavaliers may have had.


Orlando superstar center Dwight Howard paced the Magic with 40 points and 14 rebounds on 14-for-21 shooting and 12-for-16 from the free throw line. Rashard Lewis added 18 points in the victory while Mickael Pietrus scored 14. Rafer Alston and Hedo Turkoglu added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

League MVP LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 25 points -- his lowest output of the series. Delonte West added 22 points in the loss.

The victory clinched Orlando's first trip to the NBA Finals in 14 years. The Magic would manage only one win against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals with heartbreaking losses in Games 2 and 4.

Still, the 2008-09 season, including the postseason, produced more wins than any season in franchise history. The victory on this day 10 years ago handed LeBron James his only ever series loss in the Conference Finals.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

10-Year Orlandoversary: Magic Win OT Thriller to Take Commanding 3-1 Lead Over Cavs

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We're one week away from the start of the NBA Finals. On this day 10 years ago, the Orlando Magic moved to within one win of the NBA Finals with a thrilling 116-114 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Orlando held a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals as it got set to host the Cavaliers in an important Game 4 on May 26, 2009. After stealing Game 1 in Cleveland, the Magic had retaken the series lead with a 99-89 victory over MVP, LeBron James, and the Cavaliers in Game 3.

As was the case for much of the series, James was nearly unstoppable and his desire to even the series was evident early on. The Cavaliers built a 58-50 lead at halftime, but by the end of the third quarter, that lead was down to one.

The Magic trailed 79-78 entering the fourth quarter, but a 3-pointer by Mickael Pietrus just over a minute in gave Orlando its first lead of the second half. The Orlando lead would grow to as many as eight in the final period, but a late 8-1 run spearheaded by James had the Cavaliers clinging to a 98-97 lead with time winding down.

After a team offensive rebound with less than seven seconds remaining, head coach Stan Van Gundy and staff drew up an inbound play for Rashard Lewis. On a catch-and-shoot from deep, Lewis delivered with a 3-pointer to put the Magic in front, 100-98. But with less than a second to play, James had an answer by getting a generous foul call and knocking down a pair of free throws to force overtime.

A 3-pointer by James with more than three minutes to play in the extra period put Cleveland ahead 105-104, but the Magic answered with a 7-0 run behind a pair of baskets from superstar center Dwight Howard and a trey from Pietrus.

Four straight points from James and a triple late in the extra period pulled the Cavaliers to within one at 115-114 with four seconds to play. James had hit a buzzer-beating triple to win Game 2 of the series, but after Lewis split a pair of free throws, his desperation heave from near midcourt went awry and Orlando prevailed.


James scored a game-high 44 points to go with 12 rebounds and seven assists, but it was not enough. Mo Williams added 18 points for Cleveland in the loss.

Howard finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks while knocking down 10 of his 16 field goal attempts and seven of his nine free throws. Rafer Alston made six 3-pointers en route to scoring a career playoff-high 26 points. Lewis and Pietrus each scored 17 points for Orlando while Hedo Trukoglu added 15 points to go with a game-high eight assists.

As a team, the Magic shot 50 percent from the field and made a franchise playoff record 17 3-pointers in the victory. Cleveland shot 45 percent from the field and held a healthy advantage at the foul line, going 30-for-36 as a team.

The Cavaliers would bounce back to stave off elimination in Game 5 back in Cleveland, but Orlando managed to close it out at home in Game 6 and return to the NBA Finals for the first time in 14 years. The Game 4 victory was just the third playoff win for the Magic in overtime in franchise history. It came on this day 10 years ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

10-Year Orlandoversary: Magic Make Furious Rally to Steal Game 1 in Cleveland

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The Orlando Magic were in the Eastern Conference Finals for just the third time in franchise history as they began their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 20, 2019.

Entering Game 1, Orlando had never won a road game in the conference finals. That changed on this day 10 years ago as the Magic made a furious rally to down top-seeded Cleveland, 107-106.

The Cavaliers had owned the NBA's home record and early on, it looked like business as usual as Cleveland raced to a 33-17 lead in the first quarter. The Magic were able to get as close as 10 in the second quarter, but the Cavaliers pushed that to 63-48 at the break as Mo Williams nailed a 70-footer as time expired.

The final two quarters however, would be dominated by Orlando. The Magic whittled the lead to four entering the final period and took their first lead on a 3-pointer by Anthony Johnson less than two minutes into the fourth.

The Magic would lead by as many as four in the final quarter, but Cleveland guard Delonte West knocked in a 3-pointer with 40 seconds to play to put Cleveland back in front, 103-102. Rashard Lewis answered with a jumper on the other end to put Orlando ahead, but Cleveland forward and league MVP LeBron James answered with a 3-point play with 25.6 seconds to go in the game.

Orlando again turned to Lewis as he found himself isolated against Anderson Varejao. Lewis was able to fire from beyond the arc over Varejao for the go-ahead 3-pointer that put Orlando ahead with less than 15 seconds to play, 107-106.

West's go-ahead 3-point attempt with less than five seconds to go was no good and a jump ball between James and Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu was called with one second to play. Williams would catch the tip for Cleveland, but his jumper as time expired went long and the Magic prevailed.


Orlando, the No. 3 seed in the East, was coming off a Game 7 victory at Boston when they arrived in Cleveland. To that point, the Cavaliers had lost just twice at home and not at all during the playoffs. That changed with Orlando's furious comeback.

As a team, the Magic shot 55 percent from the field, 59 percent in the second half and 9-for-20 from deep. Dwight Howard led the team with 30 points and 13 rebounds. Lewis added 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting while Turkoglu scored 15 points to go with a game-high 14 assists. Mickael Pietrus and Rafer Alston added 13 and 11 points, respectively, in the victory.

James paced Cleveland with 49 points, six rebounds, eight assists and three blocks. Williams added 17 points with Zydrunas Ilgauskas recording a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Comeback efforts for the Magic in Game 2 and Game 5 in Cleveland fell just short as the loss for the Cavaliers would serve as their final home defeat of the regular season. The Magic managed to take care of business at home and win the series in six games to advance to the NBA Finals for just the second time ever. The 16-point comeback was the largest in the playoffs for Orlando in 12 years and it came on this day one decade ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

10-Year Orlandoversary: Magic Pull Away to Win Game 7 in Boston

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Despite returning to the playoffs for the first time in seven years this season, the Orlando Magic didn't sniff the second round or the Eastern Conference Finals. On this day 10 years ago however, the Magic reached the conference finals for the first time in 13 years while making history in the process.

Facing Game 7 against the defending world champion Boston Celtics on May 17, 2009, history was not on Orlando's side. The Magic had never won a winner-take-all game on the road and the Celtics were 32-0 all-time when holding a 3-2 series lead.

Orlando had rallied in Game 6 at home to force the decisive Game 7. The Magic had won Game 1 in Boston, but after losing on a buzzer-beater at home in Game 4, Orlando blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter in Game 5.

With a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line, things couldn't have started much better for the Magic in Game 7 as Orlando raced to a 27-17 lead after a quarter. A 3-pointer by Rafer Alston in the final minute of the second quarter gave Orlando a 45-38 lead at the break, but Boston guard Rajon Rondo's jumper as the third quarter buzzer sounded had the Celtics within striking distance at 66-61.

With a Game 5 rally fresh in Orlando's mind, the Magic responded to the pressure as they did all postseason -- with outstanding resolve. Behind a pair of 3-point plays from Hedo Turkoglu and Courtney Lee and two long jumpers -- one from distance -- from Mickael Pietrus, the Magic opened the final period on a 13-1 run.


From there, the game never got closer than 12 points as the Magic cruised to a 101-82 victory, becoming the first team ever to overcome a 3-2 series deficit against the Boston Celtics. As a team, the Magic shot a remarkable 13-for-21 from beyond the arc and better than 51 percent from the field.

Turkoglu finished an ultra-efficient 9-for-12 from the field with 25 points and 12 assists. Rashard Lewis added 19 points. Pietrus finished with 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting while knocking down all three of his 3-point attempts. Alston scored 15 points and center Dwight Howard put up a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Ray Allen led Boston with 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting, but as a team, the Celtics shot just 39 percent and only 4-for-16 from distance. The Celtics had won a pair of Game 7s the previous year in route to their first title in 22 years.

Orlando would go on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games to reach the NBA Finals for just the second time in franchise history. The Eastern Conference Semifinals victory in Boston however, remains the only Game 7 road victory in Magic history and one of just two period. It happened on this day a decade ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

10-Year Orlandoversary: Turkoglu's Triple Evens Series in Philly

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The Orlando Magic finished the 2008-09 season with a record 18 games better than the Philadelphia 76ers, but as the teams met for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on April 26, 2009, the Magic looked to be in real trouble.

Third-seeded Orlando had let an 18-point slip away in Game 1 at Amway Arena before winning Game 2 and dropping a heartbreaker in Game 3, 96-94. As the teams arrived for Game 4 at the Wachovia Center, all the pressure seemed to be on the Magic. In what would be a third nail-biter in four games, forward Hedo Turkoglu would ultimately deliver Orlando late in an 84-81 victory.

The contest couldn't have been more even in the first half. Neither team led by more than six in the first half or by more than four in the second quarter as the teams went to the locker room tied at 36.

With the help of a 13-2 run early in the third period, the Magic were able to take a 64-55 lead into the final quarter, but the 76ers came storming back. Philadelphia was never able to take the lead, but an 11-2 run spurred by Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala put the pressure back on Orlando. A dunk by Samuel Dalembert with less than 15 seconds to go tied the game at 81 and gave the Magic the final shot.

Forward Hedo Turkoglu was the only Magic player to touch the ball on the final possession. After a screen from Rashard Lewis, Turkoglu found himself matched up with Thaddeus Young beyond the 3-point arc. Turkoglu was able to use the dribble to keep the space before calmly knocking down a trey from the right side with a second to play.



Iguodala would get a desperation look on the other end after a Philadelphia timeout, but the shot was no good and the Magic prevailed. Orlando would win Game 5 back at Amway Arena before closing it out back in Philadelphia with a 114-89 victory despite being without suspended center Dwight Howard.

It was Howard who led Orlando in the Game 4 thriller with 18 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks. Turkoglu and Lewis each added 17. Guards Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston finished with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Miller finished with 17 points to lead six Philadelphia players in double figures.

The 2009 postseason would be filled with great moments as Orlando reached the NBA Finals for just the second time in franchise history. To get there, the Magic took down the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference in the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

A decade later, it's fair to wonder if the Magic would have been able to make that run had it not been for the big shot by Turkoglu late in Game 4 of the first round. That big shot came on this very day 10 years ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

25-Year Orlandoversary: Shaq Scores Franchise-Record 53 Points in Win Over T'Wolves

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The Orlando Magic will be hoping for a big-time team performance on Sunday as they host the Toronto Raptors in Game 4 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. One of the biggest individual performances in franchise history came from a big man on this day 25 years ago.

The Magic had already clinched a playoff spot and were locked into the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference as they hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 20, 1994 at the Orlando Arena. Orlando didn't seem to have much to play for in the late-season contest, but second-year center Shaquille O'Neal wasn't convinced.

In a 121-101 victory for the Magic, O'Neal scored a then franchise-record 53 points. The center finished the evening  by making 22 of 31 shots and nine of 13 free throws. He also added 18 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals.

All five Orlando starters scored in double-figures. Anfernee Hardaway added 16 points and nine assists while Nick Anderson contributed 15 points in the win. As a team, Orlando shot 53 percent from the floor. Isaiah Rider scored 28 points to lead Minnesota in the loss.

O'Neal scored 34 points in the first half of a contest that was never really in doubt. The Magic led by 18 points after the first quarter and by 29 entering the final period before cruising to victory.


O'Neal's 53 points was an NBA season-high at the time and also set a new Magic record. That mark would last 10 years before Tracy McGrady scored 62 points in a win over the Washington Wizards in 2004. For O'Neal, he would not be able to best the mark until nearly six years later when scored 61 points as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

O'Neal's departure after the 1995-96 season left Orlando fans with bitter sentiments toward the former No. 1 overall pick, but years later, few can question his greatness. His best scoring game as a member of the Magic came on this day a quarter century ago.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.