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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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2. Penny Does it Again

1997 First Round Game 4 — 41 points, 12/23 FGs

When the Miami Heat looked back at the loss in Game Three of their first-round series with the Magic, they likely chalked it up as the last stand of a team and its superstar. Surely they would lock down Anfernee Hardaway and prevent him from saving the Magic’s season again.

Hardaway scored one fewer point than he did the previous outing, but his dominance and impact were no less. He played all 48 minutes, carrying the Magic on his back, surprising even coach Richie Adubato, as Adubato told L.C. Johnson of the Orlando Sentinel after the game:

"“We didn’t think we could do this again,” Magic coach Richie Adubato said. “We had another superb performance by Penny Hardaway, just outstanding . . . And Derek Strong, who is playing hurt, made some great plays. It was a great game for us. I’m happy that we got a chance to go back and play a fifth game.”"

This series was Hardaway at the absolute height of his powers. Hardaway could do no wrong, literally carrying the seventh-seeded Magic to a decisive Game Five.

Hardaway was driving to the basket and pulling up. The Heat defense was helpless. And Hardaway was not going to lose this game. There may be no performance in Magic Playoff history that was just a sheer force of will as these two games in the first round in 1997.