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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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5. Tracy McGrady’s Upset

2003 First Round Game 1 — 43 points, 15/28 FGs

Tracy McGrady was a scoring machine. He seemingly could put the entire team on his back and score at will to make the Orlando Magic relevant. Even in the Playoffs, no one seemed to have an answer for him.

As the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, no one expected the Magic to make much noise against the Detroit Pistons. But McGrady tested the theory the team with the best player always has a chance.

Let it be known, Tracy McGrady was the best player in this series.

In Game One he emphatically made that known. Scoring 43 points, including famously dunking over Mehmet Okur while the ESPN broadcast interviewed a high school senior named LeBron James. And the Magic were on fire and in the series with one of the biggest upsets in Playoff history.

McGrady finished with 43 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter as Orlando held off Detroit’s rally. The Magic went on to take a 3-1 series lead.

And then Tayshaun Prince happened and McGrady could not carry the Magic any further. Who could with a team that featured an aging Shawn Kemp and Andrew DeClercq starting at center?