Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

10 more classic Orlando Magic games to watch (1995-2009 edition)

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Tracy McGrady recorded one of the Orlando Magic's all-time best playoff performances. (Mandatory Credit: Eliot Schechter/ALLSPORT NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorialsports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.)
Tracy McGrady recorded one of the Orlando Magic's all-time best playoff performances. (Mandatory Credit: Eliot Schechter/ALLSPORT NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorialsports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Dennis Scott, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Dennis Scott’s 3-point shooting was revolutionary in the NBA and helped boost the Orlando Magic. (Photo credit should read TONY RANZE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Regular Season Classics — The Original Era

We would be remiss if we did not first recognize some of the regular-season classics the Orlando Magic Classics are skipping over. We would also be remiss if we did not admit that Magic playoff history is actually quite barren from 1995 until about 2008.

If FOX Sports Florida is trying to focus on Playoff wins and Playoff journey, then they are right to go straight from 1995 to 2009. There is not a lot of great playoff success in between (although plenty of great games as we will get into shortly).

There are some regular-season classics that deserve a replay while we are waiting for the season to resume.

April 18, 1996: 33333333333-D

104. 125. 119. 38. Final

Re-watching the 1995 Playoffs shows how the Orlando Magic were scratching the surface at the 3-point revolution that would arrive in the league a little more than 10 years later. And yet, how they still had not completely embraced spreading the floor. Everybody — including Dennis Scott — wanted to post up.

The NBA realized this too and moved the 3-point line in one foot for the 1996 season. That was ultimately a silly decision. Teams started taking too many 3-pointers and everyone came to realize they did not have the shooting skill to play that way.

Dennis Scott did though. He did at the original line and was already one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. One of the first players that had some actual gravity.

Scott set a then-NBA record 11 3-pointers in the Magic’s 119-104 win over the Atlanta Hawks. In a truly funny story, the previous record-holder in Brian Shaw assisted Dennis Scott on both the record-tying and record-breaking 3-pointer.

Scott was put on a basketball floor to do one thing — make 3-pointers. And he did that exceptionally well throughout his Magic career. And most especially in this game.

Highlights from this game can be found in our Orlando Magic Video Vault.

February 22, 1998: Shaq’s Return

38. Final. 94. 20. 96

Orlando Magic fans had to wait two long years for Shaquille O’Neal to play his first game in Orlando in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. He was injured in the 1997 season, skipping out on the pent-up frustration that filled the Orlando Arena. It was at a boil when Shaquille O’Neal arrived in February 1998.

The Orlando Arena was as loud as it has ever been, booing O’Neal on every touch for this nationally televised Sunday afternoon game. And the Magic delivered a memorable win.

They largely held O’Neal in check with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The hero of the game was the Magic’s original man.

Nick Anderson scored 30 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer, letting out the Merton Hanks dance as he ran to the other end of the floor. The Magic scored this vital and emotional win in one of the most memorable games played in Magic history.

The entire game can be found in our Video Vault and commentary of this game can be found from our friends at the Penny and Pops Podcast.