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) /
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Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, Saturday, May 30, 2009. (Photo by Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images) /

2008 Slam Dunk Contest (11 p.m.)

Dwight Howard truly became a superstar this evening in New Orleans.

He donned a Superman cape and flew through the air from the free throw line, throwing the ball violently through the rim and sending the crowd into a tizzy. That was the most memorable dunk of the evening. But Howard was super throughout the evening to win his first dunk title.

2009 Slam Dunk Contest (3:30 a.m.)

Dwight Howard returned to the dunk contest to defend his title. He still had an impressive array of dunks. And the showman in him came out as he donned the Superman cape once again. But Krypto-Nate Nate Robinson outdid him, jumping over Howard in his lime green shoes to win the contest.

2009 Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 — Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (9 p.m., 1:30 a.m.)

LeBron James has had few individual series quite like the one he had against the Orlando Magic in the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. With his team down 3-1 in the series, he put together an incredible fourth quarter to will his team to victory and force a nerve-wracking Game 6 at Amway Arena. The Magic had to win this game.

But Orlando had Cleveland’s number. That Magic team was not losing to the Cavaliers and they were determined to deprive the NBA — and Nike — of that dream matchup with Kobe Bryant. They were the better team overall and a terrible matchup for the Cavaliers.

Dwight Howard was a big reason for that. And Game 6 was maybe his best game in a Magic uniform.

Howard scored 40 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 103-90 victory to clinch the Magic’s second Finals appearance. James ran out of gas, but the Magic were just too much for him and the Cavaliers to handle.