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Magic Also Made Memorable Moments in Game 2

By Dan Savage
May 22, 2009


CLEVELAND -- There's no easy remedy to cure the pain caused by LeBron James' unbelievable game-winning trey in Game 2.

You can't escape it by turning on the TV; the replay is seemingly on loop on every channel known to man.

You can't sleep it away; it's likely causing nightmares for the greater-Orlando area.

And you probably won't be able to ignore it at work; that type of shot in the playoffs is usually the hot topic of conversation around the office.

So it's inevitable, you won't be able to let the MVP's game-clinching 3-pointer slip your mind.

Just make sure you don't forget the Magic's near-miracle comeback either.

It would be easy in the moment to overlook the phenomenal display of passion and determination Orlando displayed in Game 2, after they suffered a stunning 96-95 road defeat.

But that wouldn't be fair to this team.

How many squads after claiming Game 1 and falling behind by 23 points in Game 2 wouldn't pack it in on the road?

Not many.

How many teams would have rallied to overcome that deficit and take the lead in the final quarter?

Even fewer.

What squad would come into The Q – the most difficult road venue in the NBA – and drill a shot with one second left that would put them a single moment away from being up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals?

Probably just one.

That's because this Magic team doesn't know the meaning of the word quit and they never roll over and die.

It's why when they take the court for Game 3 in Orlando on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET, they'll show no hangover from this heartbreaking defeat.

Instead, they'll look like a team that just stole home-court advantage away from the owner's of the NBA's best regular season record; because, that's essentially what they just did.

And that's why for Game 3, the Amway Arena crowd should give them as much support as LeBron James and the Cavaliers received at the buzzer at The Q.

Because after all, they've earned it.

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