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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Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Orlando Magic advanced to their second NBA Finals in 2009, dethroning the heavily favored Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /

3. Dethroning the King

May 30, 2009: Orlando Magic defeat LeBron James to head to second NBA Finals

The Orlando Magic were not supposed to be in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009.

Their play-style was too gimmicky. Their star center too happy and unserious. Their coach too panicky and wild on the sideline.

Sure that might work in the regular season. But all their weaknesses would come to bear in the postseason and the nice story would come to an end.

It certainly almost did in the first round. The Orlando Magic needed a game-winning shot from Hedo Turkoglu to tie the series with the Philadelphia 76ers at two apiece to set up their finishing kick. The Orlando magic faced elimination again in the second round needing to win Games 6 and 7 to move past the Boston Celtics.

Surely when they faced off against NBA MVP LeBron James, their luck would run out and the king would get his first real chance to get anointed champion — against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, no less.

From the first play of that series, the Magic made it clear they were here to play.

With a powerful jam, Dwight Howard caused the shot clock above the basket to collapse. And the Magic used Game 1 to come back from a 20-point deficit and win on a not-talked-about-enough shot from Rashard Lewis. The stretch-4 stared down the bigger Anderson Varejao and simply shot over him to win the game and gain control of the series.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had plenty of fight in them from James’ famous Game 2 game-winning 3-pointer to an overtime battle in Game 4 that required more heroics from Rashad Lewis. James took over the end of Game 5 and turned in one of the best individual series any team has seen.

But in the end, the Magic had all the matchup advantages. Howard put in perhaps his best game in a Magic uniform in the Game 6 clincher at home, scoring 40 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in a blowout victory.

The Magic were pointing the way to California to take on the Lakers. They were heading to their second NBA Finals.