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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.
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.
For the 15th time in 30 years as a franchise and the first time in seven years, the Orlando Magic are in the NBA Playoffs. Orlando opens things north of the border as the seventh-seeded Magic visit the No. 2 seed Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Saturday.
The Magic are 12-13 all-time in Game 1. In the mix are a lot of unmemorable moments, but also some that will live in Magic lore. In an effort to remember the good times, here are the top five Game 1 moments in Orlando history:
5. Richardson's Go-Ahead Trey (6) Orlando Magic 81, (3) Indiana Pacers 77 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals -- April 28, 2012
With star center Dwight Howard on the shelf, expectations were pretty low for the Orlando Magic in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The Magic opened the postseason at Indiana against the third-seeded Pacers, but refused to roll over. Orlando trailed by seven with less than five minutes to go, but scored the game's final 11 points to stun the Pacers in Game 1. It was a 3-pointer by Jason Richardson with just over a minute to play that ultimately put the Magic ahead for good. Indiana missed its last nine shots in the loss. Richardson and Jameer Nelson each led Orlando with 17 points in the win. Unfortunately for the Magic, they would go on to lose the series in five games and have not won a playoff game since.
4. McGrady Scores Magic Playoff Record 43 in Detroit (8) Orlando Magic 99, (1) Detroit Pistons 94 2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals -- April 20, 2003
Although the sample size was small, the Orlando Magic had never defeated a No. 1 seed in any playoff game as they arrived at the Palace of Auburn Hills to open the 2003 NBA Playoffs. Superstar guard Tracy McGrady would see to it that that would change. On an efficient 15-for-28 shooting and 10-for-12 from the foul line, McGrady scored a then playoff record for Orlando with 43 points to lead the victory over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. 17 of those points came in the fourth quarter to thwart the Detroit comeback. That franchise record would be short-lived as McGrady scored 46 in a Game 2 loss. The Magic would blow a 3-1 series lead and fall in seven games to Detroit.
3. Magic Rout Boston for First-Ever Playoff Win (8) Boston Celtics 77, (1) Orlando Magic 124 1995 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals -- April 28, 1995
After getting swept by the Indiana Pacers in their first-ever playoff appearance in the 1994 NBA Playoffs, the Orlando Magic returned the following year as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Matched up with the eighth-seeded Boston Celtics, Orlando would gets its first-ever playoff victory in emphatic fashion. Shaquille O'Neal finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead eight Magic players in double figures. Nick Anderson added 20 points while Horace Grant recorded a double-double of his own with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Orlando shot 49 percent from the field and 9-for-17 from deep. Nearly a quarter century later, the 47-point victory is still the largest in franchise playoff history. The Magic would win the series in four games en route to their first NBA Finals appearance.
2. Lewis' Late 3 Sinks Cleveland (3) Orlando Magic 107, (1) Cleveland Cavaliers 106 Eastern Conference Finals -- May 20, 2009
Fresh off a Game 7 win at Boston, the Orlando Magic arrived in Cleveland for their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 13 years. The Cavaliers, led by superstar LeBron James, owned the league's best record and had lost just twice all season at home. Early on, it looked like Orlando would be their next victim as the Magic fell behind by 15 at the break. The Magic were able to cut the lead to four after three quarters and take an early lead in the fourth, thanks to a 7-0 run, but found themselves on the short end of a 106-104 score after a 3-point play from James with 25 seconds left. On what would be Orlando's final possession, forward Rashard Lewis found himself isolated against Anderson Varejao, against whom he calmly buried a 3-pointer from near the top of the arc with less than 15 seconds remaining. After a Delonte West miss on the other end and a jump-ball, Mo Williams had a look at a jumper to win the game, but it went long. The thrilling win for Orlando would serve as the only road victory for either team in the series as the Magic topped Cleveland in six games to advance to the NBA Finals.
1. Nick Strips Jordan (5) Chicago Bulls 91, (1) Orlando Magic 94 Eastern Conference Semifinals -- May 7, 1995
The Orlando Magic were the top seed in the Eastern Conference and were coming off their first playoff series win ever, but there was skepticism about their chances in the second round against the Chicago Bulls and a rejuvenated Michael Jordan. That skepticism seemed justified late in Game 1 as Chicago led 91-90 with less than a minute to play on an alley-oop to Scottie Pippen. After an Orlando turnover with 18 seconds to play gave possession to the Bulls, it looked like the Magic had no choice, but to foul. Guard Nick Anderson had other ideas. Jordan was able to break pressure and get the ball across midcourt, but did not seek Anderson lurking from behind. Anderson was able to knock the ball away from Jordan into the hands of Magic guard Anfernee Hardaway who found former Chicago forward Horace Grant for the go-ahead fast-break dunk with six seconds to play. That wouldn't be the final miscue for the legendary Jordan as his pass for Pippen on the next possession was off the mark and out of bounds with 1.5 seconds to play to help seal the Magic victory. Shaquille O'Neal led Orlando with 26 points and 12 rebounds in the victory. Anderson added 20 points, but the play that he'll be remembered for and arguably still the most iconic moment in Magic history, came on defense.
Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
Three days after clinching a playoff spot for the first time in seven years, the Orlando Magic captured their first winning season since the 2011-12 season and the No. 7 seed on Wednesday night with a 122-114 road win over the Charlotte Hornets.
The Magic will be matched up with the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed, the Toronto Raptors, in the first round, which begins on Saturday. It is the third time in franchise history that Orlando has been the No. 7 seed. That's tied for the most with the No. 3 seed.
Orlando and Toronto have met before in the playoffs as the Magic beat the Raptors in five games during the 2007-08 season in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 match-up. It was Orlando's first series win in 12 years. That said, we instead look back on Orlando's playoff history as a No. 7 seed:
1996-97: (2) Miami Heat 3, (7) Orlando Magic 2 Series: Miami won games 1, 2 and 5; Orlando win games 3 and 4.
With Shaquille O'Neal departing prior to the start of the season and head coach Brian Hill fired at midseason, the Orlando Magic led by Anfernee Hardaway finished with a 45-37 record during the 1996-97 season and headed south to open the playoffs against the second-seeded Miami Heat. It was the first time in Orlando history that the Magic opened the playoffs without home-court advantage.
In the first two games in South Florida, Orlando wasn't remotely competitive, falling 99-64 in Game 1 and 104-87 in Game 2 -- a contest where the Magic trailed by 25 at halftime. Early on in Game 3, it looked as though the Magic would roll over and get swept as they fell behind 42-25 midway through the second quarter. That's when Hardaway would take over the series and bring Orlando to life.
The Magic closed the first half on a 17-0 run to draw even at halftime before holding Miami to 33 points in the second half and cruising to an 88-75 victory. Hardaway finished with 42 points and eight rebounds while no other Orlando starter scored more than two. The Magic got uncharacteristic production from a young Darrell Armstrong in Game 3 as the third-year man chipped in with 21 points, eight assists and four steals.
In Game 4, it was again the Penny Hardaway show. The Orlando All-Star finished with 41 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Derek Strong's performance lived up to his last name as he finished with 15 points and eight rebounds in a 99-91 Magic win. Armstrong added 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Orlando led by 14 at the break and the contest never got closer than five in the second half as Orlando forced a decisive game back in Miami.
In the decisive Game 5 back in Miami, Penny Hardaway finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but it was Miami's Hardaway -- Tim -- who would provide the lasting memory. Miami guard Tim Hardaway had shot just 4-for-19 from the field and 0-for-6 from deep in the decisive contest until the game's decisive possession.
Orlando had cut a 17-point Miami lead down to three with the shot clock winding down and less than 15 seconds to play when Tim Hardaway hit a step-back trey over Magic guard Nick Anderson to ice the contest in a 91-83 clinching victory for the Heat. Tim Hardaway finished with 11 points and 11 assists. Alonzo Mourning's 21 points and 12 rebounds paced Miami. Strong tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds for Orlando while Armstrong continued to be a force off the bench with 12 points, four assists and two steals.
2000-01: (2) Milwaukee Bucks 3, (7) Orlando Magic 1 Series: Milwaukee won games 1, 2 and 4; Orlando won Game 3.
After the Milwaukee Bucks were able to oust the Orlando Magic's "Heart and Hustle" team for the final playoff spot during the 1999-00 season, the two teams matched up in the first round in what would be Tracy McGrady's first playoff series as a member of the Magic.Orlando finished 43-39 during the season while Milwaukee went 52-30.
McGrady finished with 33 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in Game 1, but on a dismal 12-for-34 shooting. Pat Garrity was 5-for-7 off the bench to finish with 14 points for the Magic, but was the only other Orlando player in double-figures. Scott Williams was the unlikely hero for the Bucks, tallying team-highs of 19 points and 16 rebounds while leading six Bucks in double figures in a 103-90 win for Milwaukee.
McGrady again carried Orlando in Game 2 at the Bradley Center, totaling 35 points, six rebounds and seven assists while Bo Outlaw came up big with 17 points and seven rebounds. For the second straight game however, the Magic came up short late in a 103-96 loss. Ray Allen led the Bucks with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while Sam Cassell added 26 points in the victory.
Orlando headed home for Game 3, hoping to avoid the sweep and when things got tough, McGrady would not let the Magic lose. McGrady came up big with 42 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks while Darrell Armstrong recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Garrity added 16 points.
The Magic led by 14 with less than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but Glenn Robinson's jumper with 35 seconds to play gave the Bucks a 108-107 lead. McGrady answered with a 3-point play before Allen's dunk capped a 23-9 Milwaukee run to end regulation and force overtime.
After trailing 114-113 in the overtime, McGrady scored consecutive baskets to cap a 6-0 Orlando run. Tim Thomas had a look for 3 for the Bucks that would have evened the game late in overtime, but it went awry and Orlando survived, 121-116. McGrady's 42 points tied Hardaway's franchise playoff record on a night in which he was honored as the league's Most Improved Player.
Early on in Game 4, it looked like Orlando was going to send the series back to the Bradley Center. The Magic led 36-22 after a quarter and held a 4-point advantage at the break, but they had no answer for the Bucks in the second half as Milwaukee eliminated Orlando, 112-104.
McGrady had his lowest scoring output of the series with a team-high 25 points on 10-for-26 shooting to go with eight assists. Rookie Mike Miller added 22 points in the defeat while Armstrong added 16 points and eight dimes.
Allen's 26 points on 9-for-13 shooting led the Milwaukee charge while Cassell added 25 points and six assists. Robinson scored 17 points while Thomas recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds off the Milwaukee bench.
Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
The Orlando Magic scored an emotional win on Sunday night in Boston to clinch a spot in the 2019 NBA Playoffs, but the franchise clinched its first-ever playoff berth on this day a quarter century ago.
In their fifth season as a franchise, the Magic were coming off a season in which they narrowly missed the postseason. Orlando finished 41-41 during the 1992-93 campaign and ultimately lost the tiebreaker for the final playoff spot to the Indiana Pacers.
As Orlando was set to host the Detroit Pistons on April 8, 1994, there was a feeling in the air that history was on the verge of being made. The Pistons were just 20-52 and the Magic needed only a victory to cement their spot in the NBA Playoffs for the first time. When all was said and done, Orlando emerged victorious 117-103 to improve to 44-29 for the season and cement a spot in the postseason.
From the start, there was little doubt that it would be Orlando's night. The Magic led by 15 after one quarter, 19 at the break and by 20 heading to the final period.
Shaquille O'Neal had a monster night to pace the Magic with 40 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. O'Neal uncharacteristically knocked down all 12 free throw attempts. Rookie guard Anfernee Hardaway narrowly missed a triple-double, adding 26 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and two steals.
Nick Anderson finished with 18 points and five steals in the victory while Jeff Turner chipped in with 10 points. Terry Mills had a huge night for the Pistons in a losing effort, scoring 28 points and grabbing 16 boards to lead six players in double-figures. Lindsey Hunter added 17 points, seven assists and four steals off the Detroit bench.
The 1993-94 season would begin a streak of four straight playoff appearances, which included a trip to the NBA Finals and another to the Eastern Conference Finals. Now in their 30th season as a franchise, Orlando has made the playoffs 14 times and that number will hit 15 this weekend. Their first-ever trip however, was clinched on this day 25 years ago.
Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
The NBA season gets a bit more exciting as the calendar turns to April and the Orlando Magic had their fair share of late excitement on this day 25 years ago in the Meadowlands.
It was April Fool's Day in 1994 and for much of the night, the Magic were foolish with the basketball as they committed a season-high 28 turnovers in a road contest with the New Jersey Nets. Still, Orlando found a way to win late, 98-96, thanks to a late dunk by rookie Anfernee Hardaway.
Orlando and New Jersey were tied at 45 at the break, but the Magic were able to open up a 10-point lead heading to the final quarter. The Nets however, fought their way back and drew even at 96 with time ticking away.
The Magic were able to milk the clock and take the final shot. The ball was left in the hands of Hardaway, who drove down the lane and threw down a one-handed dunk with less than two seconds to play to give Orlando the victory.
Although he did have a team-high seven turnovers, Hardaway was stellar for the Magic on the evening. The rookie from Memphis finished with 27 points on 10-for-17 shooting to go with nine rebounds and four assists.
All five Orlando starters scored in double-figures. In addition to Hardaway's big night, backcourt mate Nick Anderson added 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Center Shaquille O'Neal finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Dennis Scott and Jeff Turner added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
The Magic were able to mitigate their turnover issues by holding the Nets to 39 percent shooting and 2-for-10 from beyond the arc. Orlando also held a 62-41 rebounding edge in the win. Derrick Coleman led New Jersey with 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in the loss.
Over his six years in Orlando, Hardaway had a knack for making the big shot down the stretch. One of his first in pinstripes came on this day a quarter century ago.
Mike Ferguson is the founder of Magic Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
