Orlando Magic Daily
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Top 10 Orlando Magic Moments vs. LeBron James

By Anthony Prodanovich

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 27: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter at Amway Center on December 27, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 27: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Orlando Magic during the third quarter at Amway Center on December 27, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic
CLEVELAND – MAY 20: Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic celebrates after hitting a shot late in the game giving the Magic the lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 20, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic’s top moments vs. LeBron James

4. Eastern Conference Finals Game One

May 20, 2009

106. 156. Final. 107. 38

The 66-16 Cleveland Cavaliers at home took on the national underdog Orlando Magic who finished with 59 wins in a surprising Eastern Conference Finals. Orlando faced the steeper competition on the way to the Eastern Conference as they beat the Philadelphia 76ers in 6 and an injury-depleted Boston Celtics in 7. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Piston.

Throughout the regular season and Playoffs, Nike had been putting out commercials with puppet versions of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Nearly booking in everyone’s mind that the Los Angeles Lakers would play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals.

The Magic did not really give much reason to believe they could score the upset with how shaky the inexperienced postseason team looked in winning the first two series.

As Game One unfolded, LeBron James willed a poor shooting performance from his entire team besides Anderson Varejao into a 20-point lead. James hit a career-high for the regular season or playoffs with 17 2-point field goals, tossing in three out of six from 3, eight assists, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

James finished with 49 by the way, a preview of a dominant individual series from him.

The Cavaliers led the entire game until the fourth quarter when the Magic closed the gap and made this a contest the rest of the way. There were seven lead changes in the final 10 minutes of the game. The ultimate one belonged to Rashard Lewis though.

Lewis hit a 16-footer to give the Magic a one-point lead that James answered. Then Hedo Turkoglu found Rashard Lewis on the wing to hit an in-your-face 3-pointer over Anderson Varejao to give the Magic the lead for good. Orlando contested a pair of threes from Delonte West and Mo Williams to put the game away and steal homecourt advantage in the series.

Orlando outscored Cleveland 29 to 24 in the final quarter. Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu combined for 21, shooting 7 for 9, in the final quarter. Lewis had 22 points in the game and Turkoglu had 19 points and 15 assists. Howard scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

This was going to be a series.