Magic Up 3-1 On Cavs In Eastern Conference Finals

Just an amazing, amazing game. The first half saw the Cleveland Cavaliers finally getting some contributions from the not-LeBrons. Mo Williams struggled with his shot, but got to the line and made free throws. Ben Wallace was a strong defensive presence and Delonte West played great on both ends, including a few nice moves in the deep post. Rafer Alston kept the Orlando Magic in the game, as the Cavs continually cheated off of him and he kept draining triples and taking it to the hoop. The Cavs went into halftime with a 58-50 lead, and it was looking like a 2-2 series.

Things really reversed in the second half. All of a sudden it was back to watching LeBron. Mo Williams was really forcing things, trying to go coast to coast and throwing up circus layups that kept missing the mark. On the other hand, the Magic were getting great ball movement. Dwight was getting great looks down low and making them count, and the Magic were just absolutely making it rain from downtown. They ended the game with 17 made three pointers, a Magic playoff record. Alston made 6 of them (he was big in the second half too), contributing to his 26 points overall. Pietrus hit 5 triples, and Hedo and Rashard both dropped a couple.

The Magic were clearly the better team in the second half and had turned their 8 point halftime deficit to an 8 point lead with about 5 minutes left to go in the game. And again there was a reversal.

The Magic became disorganized and impatient. Howard was no longer getting the ball deep enough in the post and they started taking contested threes off of the dribble instead of wide open threes off the pass. LeBron took advantage with relentless attacks to the hoop, although he also had three or four turnovers down the stretch. With a minute left and the game tied at 97 James drove and drew the foul on Dwight Howard, it was Howard’s fifth of the game. James missed the first (he was 14-18 from the line on the night) but made the second, putting Cleveland up one.

The two teams traded misses, and with 6 seconds left the Magic were inbounding with a chance to win it. Rashard got open off of a good Howard screen and received the ball in the corner: swish, good for three. But there was still 4 seconds left on the clock. LeBron got the ball isolated on the wing against Pietrus; he drove and drew a tripping foul. He swished the first free throw and then the second one went rim, backboard, front rim, hanging their before it slowly dropped in to tie the game. It was a hand of God free throw.

So it was off to overtime, where Dwight Howard dominated. He got three dunks early in the extra period to set the tone. He finished the game with 27 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. He made a couple monster plays on defense against LeBron down the stretch. Even more impressive (for Dwight anyway), he was 7-9 from the line and made a couple of huge ones in OT. The Magic were up six, 111-105 with the 1:12 left. LeBron then made a layup, the Cavs got a stop, LeBron made two free throws and it was a two point game. That’s when Howard made the two clutch free throws, putting the Magic back up four. Big Z made a couple of free throws to get it back to two, and with 6 seconds left, the Cavs fouled Rashard, who made both. Magic back up four. With 4 seconds left LeBron made a ridiculous three falling into the Magic bench drawing the Cavs within one, 115-114. The Cavs fouled Rashard again, but this time he missed one, so the Cavs had the ball back with 3 seconds left down two.