3. The Clinching Win
April 7: Magic 116, Celtics 108
The afternoon games could not have gone worse for the Orlando Magic it seemed. Things in other games were breaking both right for the Magic and wrong. With no more home games remaining, the team had control over its destiny but no one felt comfortable.
The Toronto Raptors took the Miami Heat out of the running earlier in the day. But the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Detroit Pistons putting them in a prime position to make the season finale between the two teams a play-in game.
That is if the Orlando Magic did not defeat the Boston Celtics in the penultimate game. The Celtics had plenty to play for too and they were rolling as the playoffs approached.
That was plenty evident when Boston took a double-digit lead in the first half. The moment was starting to feel big for Orlando. The pressure was growing and that play-in game on the season’s final day was feeling like a real possibility.
No one should have doubted this Magic team by this point. All that worry and concern quickly receded. Orlando came back. The Magic took the lead and started to outpace and run away from the Celtics.
Orlando took care of its own business and clinched its playoff spot with a game to go. The excitement was palpable off the bench as the Magic celebrated on the TD Garden floor (home to many great Magic moments actually). Orlando had made the playoffs.
This game was emblematic of the identity they had taken on throughout the entire postseason push to end the season.
They found themselves down and kept grinding and finding a way. There was no nervousness or lack of composure. And when the opportunity came, the Magic pounced and took control of the game. This was the moment they became a playoff team officially, but they were already playing that way.
Back home, fans were excited. They had their playoff team. And that is a night Magic fans will remember for a very long time.