It takes Magic to stop LeBron
- Source: The Global Times
- [23:34 May 21 2009]
- Comments
Mickael Pietrus (No.20) drives to the hoop against Mo Williams during the game. Photo: AFP
LeBron James looks on against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena yesterday. Photo: AFP
The Orlando Magic stunned red-hot LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers, rallying for a 107-106 thrilling victory in game one of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
The Magic defied a 49-point performance from NBA Most Valuable Player James, and ended what had been Cleveland’s unbeaten run through two best-of-seven series in this year’s playoffs.
James’s 49 points, which is one of the best records since 1991, improved on his previous playoff-high of 48. He also had eight assists and six rebounds in a performance that left Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy scratching his head.
With 30 points from center Dwight Howard and 22 from forward Rashard Lewis, the Magic erased a 15-point halftime deficit and stole home-court advantage over the Eastern top seed.
“It’s a big victory,” said Howard, who also grabbed 13 rebounds. “We kept fighting the whole game. We kept believing we could win.”
Howard, Orlando’s self-described superman, showed that the Magic were not going to be cowed by Cleveland early on, knocking down the 24-second shot clock above the basket with a thunderous dunk the first time he touched the ball.
He seized an offensive rebound, then leapt and shoved the ball through the hoop with both hands.
When he grabbed the rim, the 24 seconds shot-clock toppled backward. Immediate reparing attempts failed and both shot-clocks at both ends were replaced by temporary portable clocks until halftime, when the regular clocks were restored to service.
The Magic took the lead for the first time with 10:06 remaining in the fourth, when Anthony Johnson’s three-pointer gave them an 85-84 edge.
Lewis’s jump shot with 31.6 seconds left gave Orlando a 104-103 lead.