Best Games of the 2009-10 Season
OrlandoMagic.com's Josh Cohen reviews some of the most entertaining and memorable Magic games from the 2009-10 season, including stirring
victories over the Lakers and Cavaliers. Also, vote on which game you think was most unforgettable below.
It was a performance for the ages and one you may even tell your grandchildren about some day. If you attended Amway Arena on Feb. 8, you experienced something that doesn’t happen very often – a burlesque of ‘Magic.’
Vince Carter erupted for a season-best 48 points, his highest point total since Dec. 23, 2005, as the Orlando Magic overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the New Orleans Hornets, 123-117.
VC mesmerized the crowd with vintage Vince slams and layups, fall-away jumpers and step-back 3-pointers. Carter looked more like 23, not 33.
Carter was unconscious, especially in the second half when he racked up 34 points, as the eight-time All-Star shot a blistering 19-of-27 from the field and 6-of-10 from 3-point range. His career-high in scoring is 51, a total he reached twice. Tracy McGrady, Carter’s cousin, is the all-time single game Magic scoring leader with 62.
"He was phenomenal," Stan Van Gundy said.
"I've never see anybody do that on my team," Jameer Nelson said. "I called his number like six times in a row, and he made it six times in a row."
It felt like a playoff game, it sounded like a playoff game and it was as rewarding as a playoff win.
Rashard Lewis erupted for 23 points and connected on a game-winning driving layup with 1.3 seconds remaining as the Orlando Magic overcame a 16-point deficit to stun the Boston Celtics, 96-94, on Jan. 28 at Amway Arena. Dwight Howard added 19 points, 11 in the fourth quarter, and 10 rebounds.
"It was a big win for us. I think we kind of grew up tonight as a unit,” Howard said that night. We didn't give up. The crowd was out of it, everybody thought we were out of it. We just came back and played."
Aside from Orlando’s dynamic duo (Howard, Lewis), two of its supreme role players, Marcin Gortat and J.J. Redick, elevated their play late to help the Magic earn a memorable triumph.
Gortat joined Howard on the interior in the fourth to form a ferocious tag team. The Polish Hammer registered eight rebounds and three blocks and helped limit perennial All-Star Kevin Garnett from having one of his customary nights.
Redick, meanwhile, nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with 41 seconds left.
If someone had been living on Jupiter for months prior to Feb. 21 and had no clue what time of year it was and upon his or her return elected to attend the Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game, he or she would assume it was a series-deciding Eastern Conference Finals contest.
If you are a Magic fan (which we hope you are), every Cavs bucket felt like you just put one of those atomic fireball candies in your mouth. It was a sour feeling. Ultimately, however, the enjoyment of the piquant treat proved most satisfying.
Dwight Howard enjoyed a monster performance (22 points, 16 rebounds) and Jameer Nelson (18 points) and Vince Carter (11) each buried several crucial shots in the final minutes to catapult the Magic to a stirring 101-95 triumph over the Cavaliers.
"I'm sure everybody in there enjoyed watching that one," Stan Van Gundy said. "The best players all played really well."
"Play off-style basketball there,” Carter said. "Competition at a high level. Two teams going at it. Makes for great basketball."
LeBron James led Cleveland with a game-high 33 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor.
It was kind of like a Hollywood blockbuster film on March 7 at Amway Arena – except the setting was Orlando, not Los Angeles.
It may even deserve to be a nominee for an Academy Award. It featured unimaginable back-and-forth action, awesome performances from its wide list of stars and a thrilling conclusion.
The Magic were just happy to end the movie with a victory and earn some much-desired retribution from the disappointment of last season’s NBA Finals.
Vince Carter recorded 25 points, Dwight Howard notched another double-double and Matt Barnes played hard-nose, physical defense against Kobe Bryant, who missed a potential game-tying jumper at the buzzer to finalize a 96-94 Magic victory.
“That was just a battle,” Stan Van Gundy said. “That was much more than a basketball game.”
Orlando had handed L.A. its first three-game losing defeat since Pau Gasol joined Bryant on the Lakers in 2008.
"It matters how hard we work and how committed we are," Jameer Nelson said. "We need to work as a team and play well together."
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Which game from the 2009-10 season do you think is most memorable?
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