The Official Site of JJ Redick

Sun, May 31st 2009, 09:50

MAGIC FINISH OFF CAVS, ADVANCE TO NBA FINALS

ORLANDO — Survivors in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers, Game 7 winners against the defending champion Boston Celtics and downright dominant against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic are now headed to the NBA Finals.

Long live the Magic, the King is dead.

In a playoffs already full of dominating performances, the Magic crushed Cleveland and James with a stellar wire-to-wire effort Saturday night in a 103-90 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Magic now advance to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, starting Thursday at Staples Center. It is Orlando’s second march to the NBA Finals, but the first for the franchise since 1995.

``I believe in my team and I really believe in us when we come out and play our brand of basketball,’’ said Magic star center Dwight Howard, who crushed the Cavs with 40 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. ``We can beat anybody. If we run, defend and rebound we can win a lot of games. Everybody, since I’ve been here, has always written us off. We’re not at our best yet, but I’m happy with our progress.’’

The Magic beat the Cavs 4-2 and avoided having to return to Cleveland for a Game 7. Orlando stole a win in the first game in the series in Cleveland and then won all three games at Amway Arena.

Really, what happened in the series was no fluke when you consider how the Magic have dominated the Cavs the past three years. Orlando beat Cleveland six of nine times this season and in nine of 13 the past two years. And in the last three-plus years, Orlando has won 11 of 17 meetings.

Still, few gave the Magic a chance at winning the series, expecting Kobe and LeBron to appear in the NBA Finals. Instead, the Magic will be crashing that party.

``I’m 30 years old and after my baby, this is the second-best thing I could ask for from God,’’ Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu said. ``I’m just so happy.’’

Added Rafer Alston: ``We ran through some bumpy roads along the way. We had some setbacks along the way, losing at home and losing some buzzer-beaters, but we hung tough and prevailed. This is, by far, one of the best moments in basketball for me.’’

The Magic broke open a close game Saturday night in the second quarter, pounding the Cavs inside with Howard and raining in 3-pointers when they chose to collapse. Orlando led by 19 at the break, withstodd a furious charge from James and the Cavs early in the third period and actually extended the lead to as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Howard made 14 of his 21 shots and 12 of 16 free throws for his career playoff high of 40 points. He outworked the Cavs inside for six offensive boards. And he also passed out for four assists, two of them back-breaking 3-pointers and two more for layups to slashing teammates.

``Dwight was dominant,’’ Orlando’s Rashard Lewis said. ``He pretty much carried us on his back.’’

Said Cleveland coach Mike Brown: ``Dwight was an absolute monster.’’

James had just 25 points, easily his worst game of the series. He had scored 49, 35, 41, 44 and 37 points in the first five games to keep the Cavs close. But on Saturday he made just eight of 20 shots, missed four free throws and turned the ball over three times. He did not score in the second quarter when the Magic built their big lead and secured this trip to the NBA Finals.