Orlando Magic 35th Anniversary: Ranking every Orlando Magic playoff series

The Orlando Magic have been to the NBA Finals twice in their franchise history and have made plenty of playoff memories and heartaches along the way. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic have been to the NBA Finals twice in their franchise history and have made plenty of playoff memories and heartaches along the way. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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Ranking every Orlando Magic Playoff series

1. 1995 2nd Round: Defeated Chicago Bulls, 4-2

The Orlando Magic were the top seed in the Eastern Conference but they were not the favorites. Not with Michael Jordan on the other side of the court. This was Michael Jordan and even after a year and a half playing baseball, nobody beat him. He scored 55 in Madison Square Garden and this young Magic team was not ready to stand up to a title-winning team.

It certainly looked that way in Game 1 at the Orlando Arena. The Magic were trailing and Jordan had the ball. The game was certainly over. The Chicago Bulls had reclaimed their place atop the mountain like they had never left. The Magic would have to wait their turn, if they ever got it.

Jordan though was human after all. This version of him at least.

He had to look over his shoulder as the seconds ticked down in Game 1. He just happened to look over the wrong one. And that is where Chicago-native Nick Anderson stepped in and made perhaps the greatest single moment in Magic history.

Nick Anderson stole the ball. He stole the ball from Michael Jordan. Anfernee Hardaway picked it up, fed it to Horace Grant and gave the Magic the lead and eventually the Game 1 victory. The series was on.

The two teams were indeed evenly matched. But the Game 6 series clincher was just as thrilling. The Magic trailed by 12 in the fourth quarter before rallying to steal the victory. All with veteran Horace Grant on the bench.

He still got lifted on his team’s shoulders to celebrate the victory over the club he left. Maybe that part ended up being a mistake.

Next. 4 things Magic fans want to see for the 35th anniversary season. dark

The win was not. The Magic were the better team that year and that series. And they will forever be the last team to defeat Jordan in a playoff series. That is something to remember.