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.