Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Watch classic Orlando Magic games on NBATV on Sunday

By Philip Rossman-Reich

CHICAGO - MAY 18: Shaquille O'Neal #32, Horace Grant #32 and Dennis Scott #3 of the Orlando Magic huddle against the Chicago Bulls during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 18, 1995 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO - MAY 18: Shaquille O'Neal #32, Horace Grant #32 and Dennis Scott #3 of the Orlando Magic huddle against the Chicago Bulls during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 18, 1995 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets
HOUSTON – JUNE 11: Anfernee Hardaway #1 of the Orlando Magic passes against Hakeem Olajuwon #34 of the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the 1995 NBA Finals at the Summitt on June 11, 1995 in Houston, Texas. The Rockets won 106-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Noren Trotman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 6 — Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls (10:30 a.m., 7 p.m.)

Looking back on history, the Orlando Magic’s series victory on the court at the United Center against the Chicago Bulls felt almost like an inevitability. The Magic were clearly the better team destined to make their Finals run and send Michael Jordan and the Bulls stewing into the offseason.

This game was far from easy though. The Magic’s triumph came with a lot of struggle and this series — the last playoff series Jordan ever lost — easily could have gone to seven games.

In the fourth quarter, it looked like it would. The Bulls led heading into the final moments and the Magic used a frantic comeback — with Horace Grant on the bench — to defeat the Bulls 108-102 and send them packing.

This was the game where maybe it became real the Magic were ready to compete for a title. They went on the road, beat the best player in the world, came from behind and advanced. It was a much grittier and difficult win than history remembers.

The only sign of the team’s youth was Shaquille O’Neal’s insistence that they lift Horace Grant on their shoulders to show up the Bulls for letting Grant walk in free agency. That inspired the Bulls to come back in 1996 with a little more fire… particularly against the Magic.

Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets (Dec. 25, 1995) (8:30 a.m.)

You will not find any games from the 1995 NBA Finals on the Orlando Magic’s day on NBATV. You will have to wait for the Houston Rockets’ day on Aug. 24 to see any games from the Finals (and it looks like NBATV is only showing Game 4 of that series).

No, this game against the Rockets was the cathartic revenge a young Magic team needed on their way to their first and only 60-win season.

The Magic got their Finals rematch on Christmas Day in Orlando. A raucous Orlando Arena crowd was hungry for revenge against the Rockets. It was a charged atmosphere.

And they got a game that absolutely delivered the same drama that everyone saw in the 1995 NBA Finals. Except this time the Magic got the last laugh.

Anfernee Hardaway’s tip-in with 0.4 seconds left gave Orlando a small measure of revenge and a 92-90 win on Christmas Day.