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Orlando Magic NBA Playoffs: The top 10 Orlando Magic playoff performances

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins inducts Penny Hardaway into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins inducts Penny Hardaway into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic
Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins inducts Penny Hardaway into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic missed the 2017 Playoffs. But as the 2017 Playoffs come to a close we look back at the top individual performances in team history.

LeBron James is about to take part in his seventh straight NBA Finals. He has lorded over the Eastern Conference for nearly a decade and physically held dominance over the 14 other teams in his conference. Except for the teams he has played for, there is only one team he has never defeated in the Playoffs.

That would be the Orlando Magic.

The 2009 Eastern Conference Finals remains a huge blemish on James’ career resume — one that is completely obscured by everything else he has accomplished, including becoming the NBA Playoffs’ all-time leading scorer. James is not crying over his loss in the 2009 conference finals anymore.

At the time, though, the Magic pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent Playoff history. This plucky squad with Dwight Howard surrounded by four shooters was doing something novel for the time. Orlando had a 3-1 lead when James put in one last incredible salvo to force a Game Six.

With that 3-2 lead, the Magic hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 30, 2009. And Dwight Howard proceeded to put the “King” to bed. The Magic won the game 103-90, running away with the victory in the end. James shriveled and Howard shined in one of his best performances in an eight-year career with the Magic.

For sure, this was the high point in the Dwight Howard era. The Magic were rolling and heading to their second Finals in franchise history.

It was not the only great moment in the Magic’s Playoff history. In Orlando’s 14 trips to the Playoffs, the team has had some stellar individual performances. From Dwight Howard to Anfernee Hardaway to Tracy McGrady to Rashard Lewis even to Darrell Armstrong. The Magic have had plenty of memorable moments and landmark games.

The team may lack a title, but there are plenty of great Playoff performances to recount throughout Magic history.

Here are our top 10 individual Playoff games — ranked both by individual performance and lasting impact in the team’s history.