Regular Season Classics — New Era
February 21, 2003: T-Mac’s 53
Tracy McGrady has some of the greatest scoring games in Orlando Magic history. The team’s record books are filled with McGrady’s absolute best games. He made his Hall of Fame career in Orlando in a lot of ways.
There are some great scoring performances for McGrady. His 62-point game against the Washington Wizards in 2004 is the hallmark of Magic history. That game gets played — and frankly overplayed — on NBATV (it was used in the NBA’s #NBATogether program on Facebook Live).
If you want a deep cut and what is perhaps the best scoring performance in Magic history, this is probably it.
McGrady scores 52 points on 32 shots (and 20 free throws) in 33 minutes of play against the Chicago Bulls. He sits almost the entire fourth quarter. So there was a lot more in the tank. McGrady just dominated from the moment he stepped on the floor.
The magic (pun intended) of McGrady was the ability he had to do something special every time he stepped on the floor. This was one of those special games.
The subtext of sticking it to management for trading his friend Mike Miller a few days before as he geared up to carry the Magic to another playoff berth was also pretty present.
Highlights of the game are available in our Video Vault and our pals at the Penny and Pops Podcast also commented on a rewatch of the game.
November 3, 2004: Dwight’s Debut and the Rise of Steve-O
In November 2004, things were a bit uncertain for the Orlando Magic. They had just traded Tracy McGrady and acquired a new All-Star in Steve Francis. And they had the first overall pick in Dwight Howard, a gangly high schooler who they knew would need time to get up to speed in the NBA.
The Magic did not seem fully committed to a rebuild. They had a veteran-filled roster with Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Grant Hill along with some other young veterans. Plus their prized rookies in Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson. The Magic were still figuring out their future.
Things sure looked bright on opening night though. About everything went perfectly.
Howard recorded the first of a career full of double-doubles with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Howard looked like he was not fresh out of high school. He looked very ready for the league.
But the highlight of the night went to Francis. Things got off to a great start with Francis weaving his way past the Milwaukee Bucks’ defense and finishing at the rim before the buzzer sounded to give the Orlando Magic a one-point win. It is one of the most memorable opening nights in Magic history.
February 9, 2007: Dwight’s tip-in
This was the kind of moment and game you remember where you first saw it. Whether it was inside the TD Waterhouse Centre live or watching it on TV or seeing it on replay. The finish to this game is still quite unbelievable.
With 0.6 seconds left in a tie game, the only thing the Orlando Magic could do was send a lob toward the basket. Hedo Turkoglu has become legendary for his late-game prowess and his ability to inbound the ball. This is where that legend started.
Dwight Howard was able to get a down screen to free himself from Tim Duncan. He rose up over the smaller defender and thunderously jammed the ball for the game-winning basket.
This might have been the play where it became abundantly clear Howard was destined for stardom. He was getting ready for his first star turn at the Slam Dunk Contest — the ill-fated and under-appreciated sticker dunk one.
But this was a big moment that came in a big game. Howard scored 30 points to go with eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Jameer Nelson added 31 points as the Magic defeated the eventual champions. This game was a very big deal. The San Antonio Spurs are not a team anyone defeats easily.
The game is available in full in our Orlando Magic Video Vault and our friends at the Penny and Pops Podcast did a rewatch.