It wasn't meant to go like this. Cleveland were heavy favourites to rout the Magic and proceed to the NBA Finals virtually unscathed behind the MVP and Larry Bird/Magic Johnson/Michael Jordan incarnate, Lebron James.
James has been as advertised but the supporting cast have struggled to contain their opponents and have been shooting poorly. Orlando, on the other hand, have surprised everybody by being an defensive force, hitting just about every big shot that has come their way and would be 3-0 up in the series if not for some of King James' heroics in game 2.
Tonight is huge for both teams. An Orlando win and they are a game from the finals, a Cleveland victory and they regain home-court advantage. Everything to play for then in game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Pre-game - virtually a must-win for the Cavs, Mo Williams has gone as far to guarantee it, but they have yet to win at Amway Arena this season and have shown few signs of the dominance that most people expected. I think Cleveland might just steal this one but they have to limit Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis to contested shots and find some way to slow down Dwight Howard (Lebron driving at him and getting him in foul trouble as he did in game 3 could be the answer, just don't leave Big Z on him for 30 minutes). Offensively, with the exception of James, their field goal percentage has been abysmal. Delonte West (.419), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (.382) and particularly Mo Williams (.321, .250 from 3 range) have struggled and have all missed easy shots with regularity. Cleveland have to find other scoring threats and limit the turnovers that hand the Magic points in transition. For Orlando, it's business as usual; spread the ball around, get big contributions off the bench (which the Cavs have failed to do) and take what the Cavs give you (either down low to Dwight or on the edge to Hedo, Rashard and Rafer). The one concern for them will be how to stop Lebron, particularly if the guys around him start to pick up their game. Ideally, they would bring Howard up towards the key to stop James driving into the lane and picking up all those foul shots while pressing him into errors. Mickael Pietrus has been a big part of the campaign to stop Lebron and there's a good piece on his journey to the NBA here http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=pietrus-090526
1st quarter
12:00 - tip off in Orlando. Cleveland with the first point on a Mo Williams' technical. Alston immediately replies with a 3. Hard to remember them missing many of those.
10.48 - Dwight Howard with a stuff, 5-1 Orlando
Cleveland seem to be going to Mo Williams early to get him in rhythm. He has responded with all 5 of their points so far, 8-5 Orlando.
8.36 - Lebron gets the dunk in transition after a Turkoglu turnover, 10-9 Orlando.
7.00 - Dwight with a big block, only his third of the series as Mo Williams drives. At the other end he is fouled and heads to the line. Howard was 14/19 in game 3 and hits both here to move Orlando up 17-12.
5.35 - AMAZING pass from LBJ as he finds Varejao with a behind the back pass, 19-16 Orlando and the first timeout by Orlando.
Varejao just picked up his second foul, Cleveland can't afford to have him sitting on the bench for large portions of the game.
2.07 - Lebron hears nothing but net as he nails an uncontested three. Orlando have gone a little cold in the last few minutes and the Cavs lead by 4, 23-19.
End of 1st - Orlando finish on a 0/9 run and the Cavs lead 25-21. Good quarter for Cleveland as their movement is much improved and have already seen some impact from their bench. Orlando have lost their touch but have spent most of the early periods of the previous games behind so won't be too phased by this.
2nd Quarter
Howard immediately powers down a dunk that shook the arena, 13 points for him so far.
10.40 - You can't leave Hedo Turkoglu that much space on the perimeter...or Mickael Pietrus. Back to back threes and Orlando move ahead 29-27.
Lebron is off the floor right now and it shows. They are lacking direction offensively and giving up some good looks to the Magic. Speaking of, turnover by the Cavs and Anthony Johnson has an easy lay up.
Lebron returns, grabs a rebound, draws a foul and hits both, 35-33 Orlando.
6.45 - Quick ball movement and Pietrus scores from downtown. Turkoglu is running the show right now and Orlando lead by 5.
4.48 - It's all going the Magic's way now as Pietrus drives and feeds Gortat who has an easy slam. The role players for Orlando are the difference in this series right now and Gortat looks to be as good a backup centre as there is in the league. He's keeping Howard on the bench! 43-35 Orlando
Cleveland roll on a 7-0 run. Simply can's predict the momentum of this game. Lebron now scores on a nice move to put Cleveland back ahead 44-43.
1.51 - What a move by Lebron. Pietrus has proved a tough defender tonight (and in the series) and with nowhere to go, Lebron backs in before spinning and getting a shot off under a lot of contact. Count it plus the foul. 50-46 Cleveland
1.12 - Welcome to the party Daniel Gibson. A three from the young guard who has hardly played in the playoffs after being a major contributor in his rookie year.
0.00.6 - Gibson hits another three, he came to play.
End of 2nd - Cleveland finish the half up 58-50. James is playing efficiently but not having to carry his team (17/5/5). Big threes by Gibson to end the half but Orlando are only a streak of threes away from the Cavs right now, as is the nature of this game and the Magic's style of offense.
3rd quarter
9.49 - A nightmare start to the half for Cleveland. Alston hits seven straight points and the Cavs are playing some sloppy offensive series. 58-57 Cleveland and a timeout.
8.41 - Williams speeds to the basket and scores but Alston scores yet again from outside. Varejao answers and the pace of this game has picked up considerably. Much to my annoyance but probably correctly, Van Gundy calls a timeout with Cleveland stretching ahead 67-60.
6.46 - Mo Williams now has 16 points after making a tough shot and getting another from the line. 70-63 Cavs.
This game is really heating up as the Cavs go small and are hustling up and down the court while Orlando's stars seem to have awoken from their slumber.
4.11 - Big moment in the context of this series. Howard makes a good move, scores a lay up and gets fouled by Anderson Varejao but then gives up a technical foul for taunting (and a harsh call it appears). That could lead to a suspension. 74-71 Cleveland after the foul throws and some more taunting, this time towards the officials from the crowd.
LBJ just hit a ridiculous three. He had no right to take the shot let alone sink it. 24 now for him.
'Retro' Ben Wallace as he stifles Howard in the paint. A former defensive MVP showing he can hang with the current defensive MVP.
Shaq-Diesel is in the crowd. He looks pretty baked.
0.36 - Rafer Alston lays in another and has 15 in the quarter.
End of 3rd - 79-78 Cleveland. James took a couple of poor shots towards the end of the quarter and despite some firm D from Ben Wallace, Orlando have found themselves right back in this game. Real quiet night for Rashard Lewis so far; only 4 points, 5 boards and no assists.
4th quarter
10.51 - Again Orlando start a quarter on the front foot, Pietrus benefiting from quick ball movement and hitting from outside the arc. 81-79 Magic.
Rafer Alston is on fire. Another three and he now has 26 points, a playoff career high for him, and on 10/14 shooting. 86-83 Orlando.
Cleveland are looking ragged, poor possessions and little defence. The demons of the first three games are rearing their heads now as Orlando burst once again. How psychologically damaging is the speed at which the Magic can string together points?
7.46 - Courtney Lee receives the feed from Turkoglu and hits from three. 91-83 Orlando and this is their biggest lead of the night. At this rate, Cleveland will be staring down the barrel when the series heads back to the Q.
The Cavs are asking Lebron James to do it all on his own once again. This strategy is surely doomed but hey, he is the King. He has 27 points in 38 minutes of play so far.
4.54 - Timeout by the Magic as they continue to lead but only 93-90. One minute they look unstoppable, the next, well...you get the picture. I know Lebron will be pleased with the chance to catch breath.
4.19 - On cue, Rashard Lewis is starting to ignite. His three comes right after Delonte West missed a wide open chance to level the score after good work from James. 96-90 Orlando and Lewis has 11 points.
Alston wide open...but he misses. And he is made to pay as Varejao completes a three-point-play. Any big three (and they are shooting a ridiculously high 50% from threeland) for Orlando could yet be the final dagger. 96-93 Magic.
1.58 - After giving the ball away in consecutive possessions, Lebron slices through and dunks all over the Magic. Cleveland have stepped up their defence in the closing minutes. 96-95 Orlando
Dwight Howard scores one of two from the line but Delonte West, who has played very well tonight, drives right at Howard and scores. 97-97 with only a 1.10 remaining.
1.05 - Lebron draws the foul but scores just one. Enough to give them their first lead in forever.
0.21 - James has the chance to finish the game but hits the rim on a step back J. Orlando can win this right now.
0.07 - Pietrus misses the three shot and the ball goes out of bounds. Magic ball with 6.4 seconds left and the Cavs up by one. Another great finish here. You have to love playoff basketball.
Big 6 odd seconds here, this could be decisive. Everything that was on the line before the game is condensed into probably one play. Where do the Magic look? Alston has had a big game but I figure they look for Rashard.
0.04.1 - They do go to Lewis and he HITS FROM THREE! 4 seconds remaining and Orlando are up by 2! This guy has ice in his veins and nails another big shot in these playoffs. But have they scored too early. Lebron, your team needs you...
Orlando cannot make the same mistake they did in game 2 and let Lebron hit the game-winner. Make Mo Williams or Delonte West make the shot.
0.00.5 - James does receive the ball and is tripped as he tries to pass. With no time left, he has two free throws to tie the game and send us to OT. His free throw shooting in this series has been inconsistent and is 10/14 from the line tonight.
First shot...scores
Second shot...to tie the game...and send us to OT...the big shot...no pressure...hey batter, batter, batter, batter... he makes it (just)...of course. Scores tied.
Orlando may have the chance for one final shot. Turkoglu to inbound it and he looks for Howard on the lob but he can't quite get it under pressure from Varejao. The crowd are screaming for a foul but it looked like a fair collision. 100-100 and we are headed for another period in this cracker of a basketball game.
end of 4th - Drama here in Florida, will the extra minutes put in by the Cavs starters cost them in extra minutes?
Overtime (5 minutes)
4.34 - First blood Cleveland as Daniel Gibson scores two foul shots. 102-100 Cavs
3.39 - Howard with two storming dunks to give Orlando back the lead. He looks absolutely fierce right now.
3.08 - LBJ from downtown. 37 points for the MVP but Howard responds in the paint again to maintain the edge for the Magic.
Varejao is fouled out as he tries to strip Howard. That won't help. Big Z will now have to cover Dwight.
2.10 - Pietrus with a three, the Magic's 17th of the game and its a 4 point margin.
Lebron commits another tired looking turnover (his 8th of the game) and Howard is able to stretch the lead as he taps in Turkoglu's shot. 111-105 Orlando with time running out. Howard is dominating in this overtime.
1.06 - Lebron makes a near impossible basket with his left hand. Lead down to 4 but the clock is the Cav's biggest opponent now.
0.39 - James back to the line and he hits both. 111-109 Orlando.
0.21 - Dwight is fouled. Hows his FT shooting tonight? 5/7 coming into this but he nails both to restore the lead to 4.
We have seen nothing of Mo Williams since the first half.
Lebron drives in the lane but gets blocked by Dwight Howard. Jump ball and if Orlando can tip this, the game is as good as over, but they don't. Cleveland ball and a foul by Pietrus.
0.07.4 - Ilgauskus scores two free throws to cut the advantage to 2. West then fouls Lewis on the inbounds and he goes to the line. One...and two. Looks, finally, to be beyond the Cavaliers now. 115-111 Orlando and King James could be on the way to being dethroned before he even gets coronated. That was the plan right? Cleveland v Lakers? Lebron v Kobe? Maybe not.
0.04.1 - Or just maybe as Lebron scores a three and they foul Rashard immediately. 115-114 Orlando.
Lewis misses the first FT. Game on.
Lewis scores the second and now the Cavaliers have 3.2 seconds to get the ball up court and get a shot off. Tense.
Williams throws the ball up to LBJ who heads across mid-court and launches...he misses. A real tough shot but I bet everybody in the arena thought he would score right there.
End of OT - Orlando 116 - 114 Cleveland. Tough loss for Cleveland; energy sapping, emotion draining and physically back-breaking. The Cavs head home and must look for some inspiration to overcome a team they have yet to get to grips with. For the Magic, they are 3/4 of the way there. Lebron scored 44 but Orlando had big contributions in each quarter and seem to have more options for the big shot. Alston, Turkoglu, Lewis and Pietrus all played their part but this game was won by Dwight Howard's aggression and nerve down the stretch.
Game 5 is in Cleveland on Thursday.
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