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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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8. Dwight Dominates

2011 First Round Game 1 — 46 points, 19 rebounds, 16/23 FGs

The Atlanta Hawks’ strategy in their first-round series against the Orlando Magic in 2011 was quite simple. Let Dwight Howard do what he was going to do and eliminate the team’s potent 3-point shooting.

After losing in a four-game sweep the year before, the Hawks had a lot of reason to fear the Magic. Orlando could still put up a ton of points and largely dominated the regular season series.

Atlanta had Zaza Pachulia, Al Horford and Jason Collins to throw at Howard. It was literally force the Magic to throw the ball to Howard, single cover him, foul him hard and pray.

In Game One, the Hawks could not stop Howard as he scored 46 points. But it played right into their hands.

Atlanta won the game by 10, frustrating Howard to no end. The belief was put in the Hawks at that point and Atlanta won the series in six games to complete the upset and topple the Magic’s crumbling empire.