Orlando Magic Daily
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The 10 greatest moments in Orlando Magic history

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Anfernee Hardaway sported the Orlando Magic's original pinstripes jersey, a classic that still creates buzz around the league. (Photo by Andrew D Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Anfernee Hardaway sported the Orlando Magic's original pinstripes jersey, a classic that still creates buzz around the league. (Photo by Andrew D Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic, Jamal Mashburn, Miami Heat
Anfernee Hardaway created his own Orlando Magic legacy after Shaquille O’Neal left. (Photo by TONY RANZE/AFP via Getty Images) /

6. Penny’s Double

April 29 & May 1, 1997: Penny extends the series vs. Miami Heat

I was walking back to the media room alongside former Orlando Magic coach and current radio color commentator Richie Adubato following Darrell Armstrong’s Orlando Magic Hall of Fame induction. He was telling a story about Darrell Armstrong’s big coming-out party — the 1997 Playoffs series against the Miami Heat.

He said the decision to start Armstrong and play him big minutes was a risk. He was unproven, but he needed to mix up the defensive energy on Tim Hardaway. It proved to be a great decision as Hardaway struggled in the final three games of the series.

But another conversation is why the Magic were able to tie the series after falling into a 2-0 hole. With Rony Seikaly and Horace Grant injured for much of, if not all of, that series, Richie Adubato said he turned to his star Anfernee Hardaway and asked him to take over. Every shot, every play had to go through him. He needed to be unstoppable.

What followed is perhaps the best pair of playoff performances in franchise history.

Hardaway scored 42 points in Game 3 and followed it with 41 in Game 4 to avoid the sweep and force a decisive Game 5. He scored 33 points in that game for good measure, with the Heat eking out a win on a late Tim Hardaway 3-pointer (really the only tough shots he made against Darrell Armstrong’s defense).

If there was a question of whether Anfernee Hardaway could carry a team in Shaquille O’Neal’s absence, he silenced those in this series to end a tumultuous seasons. Hardaway was dominant in every way, scoring at will against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Hardaway was clearly the best player on the floor.

This was, unfortunately, his last big series and moment in a Magic uniform. His ankle and knee injuries set in the following season and Hardaway could never regain his All-NBA form.