Updates
Fri, May 29th 2009, 13:48
MAGIC DROP GAME 5 IN CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND — The last time the Orlando Magic were in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena before Thursday LeBron James hit a dagger of a fall-away 3-pointer to win Game 2 in dramatic, buzzer-beating fashion.
But as it turns out, Thursday’s trip back to Cleveland might prove to be a more painful experience for the Magic.
Up one point at the start of the fourth quarter and 12 minutes away from a berth in The NBA Finals, the Magic had no answer for Cleveland star LeBron James and lost Game 5 111-102.
``We go into the fourth quarter, we’re right there and we just don’t get it done,’’ frustrated Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.
The loss means there will be a Game 6 Saturday night back at Amway Arena in Orlando. Cleveland is still very much in a must-win situation, but the Magic need a victory to avoid having to return to Cleveland for a Game 7. Working in the Magic’s favor is that they are 4-0 this season against the Cavs in Orlando.
James had his first triple-double of the series with 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Incredibly, he either scored or assisted on 41 consecutive points during a long stretch of the second half.
James got the support he needed from Mo Williams, who had 24 points and became the first Cav in the series other than James to score at least 20 points. And Daniel Gibson (11 points) hit three 3-pointers in the second half, all coming off assists from James.
``I’m just taking what the defense gives me,’’ James said. ``When my guys are making shots it makes it a lot easier on myself. It allows me to go one-on-one with my defender and they can’t help as much. And when they did help, we knocked down 3-point shots. That’s what I need from my guys.
``I don’t add more pressure to my teammates, but they know that we’re a very strong team when we knock down shots.’’
The Magic didn’t knock down nearly as many shots, especially long-range shots because Cleveland stayed on shooters and didn’t trap forward Hedo Turkoglu or Dwight Howard as much. Turkoglu scored a career playoff high with 29 points and Howard had 24 points and 10 rebounds.
But the Magic made just eight 3-pointers – nine fewer than Game 4 in Orlando. Magic point guard Rafer Alsto, who had 18 points in Game 3 and 26 in Game 4, had a miserable night by making his first shot and missing the final nine. Rashard Lewis had 15 points, but missed nine of 13 shots.
As they have been in two previous games in Cleveland, the Magic were dismal at the start and fell into an early hole. The Cavs roared out of the gates, making 13 of their first 17 shots and had a staggering 32-10 lead nine minutes into the game.
The Magic trailed by 14 at the end of the first quarter in Games 1 and 2, but just like in those previous games, they came roaring back. Orlando put on a stunning rally at the end of the first period and throughout the second quarter to suck the life out of The Q. Orlando trailed just 56-55 at the half, a victory in itself.
But the Magic know they must get their slow starts and their defense on James fixed before Saturday’s Game 6 in Orlando. Simply put, they don’t want to go back to Cleveland for a Game 7.
``It’s three straight games here in Cleveland and we’re in a big hole,’’ Van Gundy said. We were lucky enough to win the first one, almost got the second one. It just takes a lot out of you and our starters wear down a little bit trying to fight back.
``After the game I put it on our starting unit. They’ve got to get us off to better starts, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. I don’t think they’ve done that in this series. They have to do that on Saturday night.’’