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| (Photo: Getty Images) |
The Magic had made the playoffs the year before as the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed, but were swept in convincing fashion by the Detroit Pistons. Led by a young, talented center named Dwight Howard and a big-time free agent signing named Rashard Lewis, the Magic won 52 games during the 2007-08 campaign and earned the No. 3 seed in the East.
Despite a number of appearances, it had been 12 years since the Magic had won a playoff series. The last time that had happened was the 1996 NBA playoffs in what would Shaquille O'Neal's final season in Central Florida.
O'Neal would go on to win titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat before the Magic won another playoff series, but that was on the verge of changing. Matched up with the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors, who were led by All-Star Chris Bosh, the Magic took the first two games at home before stealing Game 4 on the road.
As the teams met at the Amway Center for Game 5 on April 28, 2008, Orlando held a 3-1 series lead and needed just one victory to advance for the first time in 12 years. With the crowd abuzz, the Magic did just that with a 102-92 victory.
Orlando trailed 50-49 at the half, but used a vocal home crowd to persevere in the second half. The Magic led 74-68 after three, but the Raptors closed to within two in the final quarter before Orlando went on a run to put the game away.
Howard led six Magic players in double-figures with 21 points and 21 rebounds while Rashad Lewis added 18 points and 13 rebounds in the victory.
The Magic shot 45 percent and just 28 percent from beyond the 3-point line, but dominated on the glass, 55-37. Bosh led Toronto with 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Orlando would fall to Detroit again -- this time in five games -- in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but would reach the NBA Finals for just the second time in franchise history the following season. After going 12 years without winning a playoff series however, getting past Toronto in 2008 was sweet relief and it happened on this day 10 years ago.
Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
