Magic Make History in Game 3
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June 9, 2009
ORLANDO -- It was a historical night for the Orlando Magic.
They didn't achieve their ultimate goal, but they did find a piece to the puzzle.
With Tuesday's thrilling 108-104 Game 3 home win, the Magic achieved their first NBA Finals victory in franchise history, a sensational mark not to be overlooked.
They had four opportunities in their memorable 1995 Finals run, but were unable to capitalize on basketball's biggest stage. A 4-0 series sweep at the hands of the Houston Rockets left the organization itching for a second chance.
Fourteen years later, in front of an electric Amway Arena crowd, the Magic made the most of the occasion, earning their first triumph of the series, one they felt was long overdue.
"It feels good," veteran point guard Anthony Johnson explained. "It came a little bit longer than we expected – we figured we'd get one of those out there in L.A. – but it's a blessing to having won one and hopefully this will open the door to three more."
The Magic, now trailing just 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, earned their first Finals triumph by executing with extreme efficiency on the offensive end.
They attempted a season-low 14 3-pointers and shot a record-setting 62.5 percent from the field. Their sizzling 75 percent effort from the floor over the first two quarters also broke an NBA Finals mark for highest shooting percent in a half.
"Tonight offensively we played with more speed and energy on the offensive end," point guard Rafer Alston explained. "We were able to get down the floor and push it."
A key factor in Orlando's shooting success was its patent unselfish nature on the offensive side of the court. Continuous ball movement, coupled with Dwight Howard's distribution out of double-teams, allowed for five different Magic players to score at least 18 points.
The only thing more impressive than their well-balanced attack was the attitude spread across the entire locker room.
Every positive quote about the franchise's monumental victory was followed by a quick "but" and an emphasis on the daunting task ahead.
Even the league's only remaining rookie, didn't lose sight of his team's only focus, following the uplifting outcome.
"It definitely feels good to get the first Finals win in franchise history, but we're not satisfied with that," Courtney Lee explained. "We have to get three more wins to really go down in history, so that's what we are really looking forward to doing."
With that type of outlook spread across the roster, don't be surprised if the series is even after Thursday's Game 4 contest at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
Comment and ask questions to Dan Savage by following him on twitter at http://twitter.com/dan_savage.
For more analysis, turn to Josh Cohen, who examines the Amway Arena crowd in Game 3.
