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| Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images |
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.
