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| Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images |
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.
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