2008–09 Orlando Magic season

The 2008–09 Orlando Magic season was the 20th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Led by 23-year-old center Dwight Howard, the team finished the regular season with a 59–23 record, the most wins since the 1995–96 season. The Magic would go on to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in six games in the first round, highlighted by forward Hedo Türkoğlu's game winner in game four of the first round of the playoffs, then defeated the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in a tough, hard-fought seven-game series in the semi-finals, and finally, defeated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in six games in the conference finals, thanks to all-star defensive player of the year center Dwight Howard's 40 points and 10 rebounds in Game 6, to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995, only to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

2008–09 Orlando Magic season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachStan Van Gundy
General managerOtis Smith
PresidentBob Vander Weide
Owner(s)Richard DeVos
ArenaAmway Arena
Results
Record59–23 (.720)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Southeast)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Lakers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television
RadioWDBO

Following the season, Türkoğlu was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal and Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee were all dealt to the New Jersey Nets. It was also Tyronn Lue’s last season as an NBA player, as 6 years later, he would return to the NBA, as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Key dates
  • June 26: The 2008 NBA draft took place in New York City.
  • July 1: The free agency period started.
  • October 29: The Magic opened the season with a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
  • December 12: Because of a sore left knee, Dwight Howard missed the first game of his professional career, ending a streak of 351 consecutive games played in.[1]
  • January 13: The Magic scored an NBA record 23 three-pointers against the Sacramento Kings. Nine of the twelve Magic players who played that night scored at least one three pointer: Jameer Nelson (5), JJ Redick (4), Keith Bogans (4), Hedo Türkoğlu (3), Rashard Lewis (3), Courtney Lee (1), Anthony Johnson (1), Brian Cook (1), and Jeremy Richardson (1).[2]
  • February 2: Jameer Nelson left a game after dislocating his right shoulder. One day later, it was announced that he suffered a torn labrum, and would require surgery to repair it, meaning he would likely miss the rest of the season. A few days prior to the injury, Nelson had been named as a reserve in the All-Star Game.[3]
  • February 19: As part of a three-way trade, the Magic acquired Rafer Alston from the Houston Rockets.[4]
  • February 25: The Magic were assured a winning season after defeating the New York Knicks.
  • March 11: The Magic clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Chicago Bulls.
  • March 25: After beating the Boston Celtics, the Magic clinched their second consecutive division championship. With the win, they were also guaranteed of finishing the regular season with more wins than the previous season.
  • April 15: The regular season ended, with the Magic finishing one win shy of matching a franchise record.
  • April 21: Dwight Howard won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, becoming the youngest player to win the award as well as the first player of the Magic to do so.[5]
  • April 28: Rookie Courtney Lee was accidentally hit in the face by Dwight Howard during game 5 of the Magic's first round playoff series. The following day it was announced he would miss Game 6, suffering a fractured sinus.[6]
  • April 29: Dwight Howard was suspended for one game by the NBA for an incident in which Howard elbowed a Philadelphia 76ers player in the face the previous night in Game 5 of the Magic's first round playoff series.[7]
  • April 30: The Magic advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in 6 games.
  • May 17: In a Game 7 on the road, the Magic advanced to their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 1996 after defeating the defending champion Boston Celtics.
  • May 30: The Magic defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–2 to advance to the 2009 NBA Finals and made their first appearance since 1995.
  • June 9: The Magic earned their first NBA Finals game victory in franchise history. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 at Amway Arena by a score of 108–104. The Magic shot an NBA Finals single-game record 75% in the first half, and a record 62.5% for the entire game.[8] The Magic had lost their first six NBA Finals games (four in 1995 and two in 2009).
  • June 14: The Magic's season ended, having lost the NBA Finals in five games to the Lakers.

Offseason

Draft picks
Main article: 2008 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 22 Courtney Lee Shooting guard American Western Kentucky

Roster
2008–09 Orlando Magic roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
PG 1 Alston, Rafer 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1976-07-24 Fresno State
PF 4 Battie, Tony 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1976-02-11 Texas Tech
C 31 Foyle, Adonal 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1975-03-09 Colgate
PF 13 Gortat, Marcin 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1984-02-17 Poland
C 12 Howard, Dwight (C) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1985-12-08 SW Atlanta Christian Academy HS (GA)
PG 8 Johnson, Anthony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1974-10-02 College of Charleston
SG 11 Lee, Courtney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1985-10-03 Western Kentucky
PF 9 Lewis, Rashard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1979-08-08 Alief Elsik HS (TX)
PG 10 Lue, Tyronn 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1977-05-03 Nebraska
PG 14 Nelson, Jameer Injured (C) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1982-02-09 Saint Joseph's
SG 20 Piétrus, Mickaël 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1982-02-07 France
SG 7 Redick, JJ 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1984-06-24 Duke
SF 32 Richardson, Jeremy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1984-02-11 Delta State
SF 15 Türkoğlu, Hedo 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1979-03-19 Turkey
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 23, 2009

Regular season

The first half of the 2008–09 season went very well for the Magic. After 41 games, the Magic were 33–8, leading the Southeast Division, as well as having one of the top four records in the league. On January 13, 2009, they scored an NBA record 23 three-pointers against the Sacramento Kings. Nine of the twelve Magic players who played that night scored at least one three pointer. At the start of February, Jameer Nelson, their all-star starting point guard, went down with a shoulder injury which caused him to miss the remainder of the season. The Magic then began a stretch where they did not win or lose consecutive games for almost the entire month. The Magic did make a deal at the trade deadline with the Houston Rockets for Rafer Alston. Still having to deal with the absence of Nelson though, Orlando managed to maintain one of the top records in the league, secured a second straight winning season, and clinched a playoff berth in mid-March. The Magic defeated the defending champion Boston Celtics to capture their second consecutive division championship, and on the same night assured themselves of winning more games than the previous season. Finishing the regular season with a 59–23 record, it was the most games the team had won in a season since the 1995–96 season in which they had 60 wins.

Standings
Southeast Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
y-Orlando Magic5923.720—32–927–1414–282
x-Atlanta Hawks4735.5731231–1016–2511–582
x-Miami Heat4339.5241628–1315–269–782
Charlotte Bobcats3547.4272423–1812–295–1182
Washington Wizards1963.2324013–286–351–1582
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Cleveland Cavaliers6616.805—
2 y-Boston Celtics6220.7564
3 y-Orlando Magic5923.7207
4 x-Atlanta Hawks4735.57319
5 x-Miami Heat4339.52423
6 x-Philadelphia 76ers4141.50025
7 x-Chicago Bulls4141.50025
8 x-Detroit Pistons3943.47627
9 Indiana Pacers3646.43930
10 Charlotte Bobcats3547.42731
11 New Jersey Nets3448.41532
12 Milwaukee Bucks3448.41532
13 Toronto Raptors3349.40233
14 New York Knicks3250.39034
15 Washington Wizards1963.23247

Record vs. opponents
2008–09 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOH NYK OKC ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta –0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Boston 0–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Charlotte 0–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Chicago 0–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Cleveland 0–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Dallas 0–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Denver 0–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Detroit 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00—00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Golden State 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Houston 10–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–0–10–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–010–0
Indiana 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
L.A. Clippers 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
L.A. Lakers 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Memphis 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Miami 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Milwaukee 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Minnesota 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—00—00—00—00—0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
New Jersey 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—00—00—0
New Orleans 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
New York 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Oklahoma City 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–00–00–00–00—00–00–00–0
Orlando 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0
Philadelphia 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–00–00—0
Phoenix 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–00—0
Portland 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–00–0
Sacramento 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–00–0
San Antonio 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00—0–0–00–00–0
Toronto 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–00–0
Utah 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0–0–0
Washington 0–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–00–0—

Game log
2008–09 game log
October: 0–2 (home: 0–1; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 29 Atlanta L 85–99 Dwight Howard (22) Dwight Howard (15) Anthony Johnson (3) Amway Arena
17,461		 0–1
2 October 31 @ Memphis L 84–86 Rashard Lewis (23) Dwight Howard (14) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) FedExForum
16,139		 0–2
November: 13–2 (home: 7–2; road: 6–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
3 November 1 Sacramento W 121–103 Dwight Howard (29) Dwight Howard (14) Rashard Lewis (6) Amway Arena
16,704		 1–2
4 November 3 Chicago W 96–93 Dwight Howard (22) Dwight Howard (15) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
15,606		 2–2
5 November 6 Philadelphia W 98–88 Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu (20) Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu, Dwight Howard (8) Jameer Nelson (9) Amway Arena
16,407		 3–2
6 November 8 Washington W 106–81 Dwight Howard (31) Dwight Howard (16) Jameer Nelson (6) Amway Arena
16,911		 4–2
7 November 10 Portland L 99–106 Hedo Türkoğlu (35) Dwight Howard (19) Jameer Nelson (7) Amway Arena
14,210		 4–3
8 November 12 @ Oklahoma City W 109–92 Dwight Howard (30) Dwight Howard (19) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Ford Center
18,185		 5–3
9 November 14 @ Dallas W 102–100 Rashard Lewis (23) Dwight Howard (13) Anthony Johnson (6) American Airlines Center
20,085		 6–3
10 November 16 @ Charlotte W 90–85 Hedo Türkoğlu (20) Tony Battie, Dwight Howard (7) Hedo Türkoğlu (4) Time Warner Cable Arena
12,639		 7–3
11 November 18 Toronto W 103–90 Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu, Jameer Nelson (22) Dwight Howard (9) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
16,353		 8–3
12 November 21 @ Indiana W 100–98 (OT) Dwight Howard (24) Dwight Howard (17) Jameer Nelson (9) Conseco Fieldhouse
14,699		 9–3
13 November 22 Houston L 95–100 Jameer Nelson (21) Dwight Howard (9) Jameer Nelson (6) Amway Arena
17,461		 9–4
14 November 24 Milwaukee W 108–101 Dwight Howard (24) Dwight Howard (13) Jameer Nelson (6) Amway Arena
16,245		 10–4
15 November 26 @ Philadelphia W 96–94 Dwight Howard (21) Dwight Howard (14) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Wachovia Center
14,985		 11–4
16 November 27 @ Washington W 105–90 Dwight Howard (26) Dwight Howard (14) Anthony Johnson (12) Verizon Center
13,295		 12–4
17 November 29 Indiana W 110–96 Dwight Howard (32) Dwight Howard (21) Anthony Johnson, JJ Redick (4) Amway Arena
17,172		 13–4
December: 12–3 (home: 6–0; road: 6–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
18 December 1 @ Boston L 88–107 Rashard Lewis (30) Dwight Howard (15) Hedo Türkoğlu, Anthony Johnson (4) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		 13–5
19 December 3 Minnesota W 100–89 Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard (23) Dwight Howard (14) Rashard Lewis (5) Amway Arena
15,705		 14–5
20 December 5 Oklahoma City W 98–89 Dwight Howard (21) Dwight Howard (23) Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
16,812		 15–5
21 December 8 @ L.A. Clippers W 95–88 Dwight Howard (23) Dwight Howard (22) Hedo Türkoğlu (6) Staples Center
15,222		 16–5
22 December 9 @ Portland W 109–108 Rashard Lewis (27) Rashard Lewis (9) Jameer Nelson (6) Rose Garden
20,642		 17–5
23 December 12 @ Phoenix L 112–113 Dwight Howard (19) Rashard Lewis (8) Jameer Nelson, Anthony Johnson (6) US Airways Center
18,422		 17–6
24 December 13 @ Utah W 103–94 Rashard Lewis (27) Rashard Lewis (9) Jameer Nelson (6) EnergySolutions Arena
19,911		 18–6
25 December 15 @ Golden State W 109–98 Jameer Nelson (32) Marcin Gortat (13) Hedo Türkoğlu (8) Oracle Arena
18,844		 19–6
26 December 18 San Antonio W 90–78 Jameer Nelson (24) Dwight Howard (13) Jameer Nelson (7) Amway Arena
17,461		 20–6
27 December 20 L.A. Lakers W 106–103 Jameer Nelson (27) Dwight Howard (12) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
17,461		 21–6
28 December 22 Golden State W 113–81 Jameer Nelson (22) Dwight Howard (11) Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
17,461		 22–6
29 December 25 New Orleans W 88–68 Hedo Türkoğlu (20) Dwight Howard (15) Hedo Türkoğlu (5) Amway Arena
17,461		 23–6
30 December 27 @ Minnesota W 118–94 Hedo Türkoğlu (26) Hedo Türkoğlu, Rashard Lewis (7) Jameer Nelson (8) Target Center
17,003		 24–6
31 December 29 @ Detroit L 82–88 Rashard Lewis (23) Dwight Howard (18) Hedo Türkoğlu (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 24–7
32 December 31 @ Chicago W 113–94 Rashard Lewis (21) Dwight Howard (14) Jameer Nelson (5) United Center
21,861		 25–7
January: 10–3 (home: 5–1; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
33 January 2 Miami W 86–76 Rashard Lewis (17) Dwight Howard (15) Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (5) Amway Arena
17,461		 26–7
34 January 4 @ Toronto L 102–108 Dwight Howard (39) Dwight Howard (8) Rashard Lewis (9) Air Canada Centre
19,322		 26–8
35 January 6 Washington W 89–80 Hedo Türkoğlu (22) Dwight Howard (16) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
16,011		 27–8
36 January 7 @ Atlanta W 106–102 Dwight Howard (23) Dwight Howard (19) Hedo Türkoğlu (8) Philips Arena
13,748		 28–8
37 January 9 Atlanta W 121–87 Hedo Türkoğlu (21) Marcin Gortat (11) Jameer Nelson (9) Amway Arena
17,461		 29–8
38 January 11 @ San Antonio W 105–98 Dwight Howard (24) Dwight Howard (14) Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (5) AT&T Center
18,216		 30–8
39 January 13 @ Sacramento W 139–107 Dwight Howard (25) Dwight Howard (15) Jameer Nelson (11) ARCO Arena
11,168		 31–8
40 January 16 @ L.A. Lakers W 109–103 Jameer Nelson (28) Dwight Howard (20) Jameer Nelson (8) Staples Center
18,997		 32–8
41 January 17 @ Denver W 106–88 Hedo Türkoğlu (31) Dwight Howard (20) Hedo Türkoğlu, Jameer Nelson (5) Pepsi Center
19,749		 33–8
42 January 22 Boston L 80–90 Hedo Türkoğlu (22) Dwight Howard (11) Jameer Nelson (3) Amway Arena
17,461		 33–9
43 January 24 @ Miami L 97–103 Dwight Howard (22) Dwight Howard (10) Jameer Nelson (7) American Airlines Arena
19,600		 33–10
44 January 27 Indiana W 135–111 Mickaël Piétrus (27) Mickaël Piétrus, Dwight Howard (10) Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (8) Amway Arena
17,461		 34–10
45 January 29 Cleveland W 99–88 Dwight Howard (22) Dwight Howard (18) Rashard Lewis (5) Amway Arena
17,461		 35–10
February: 8–6 (home: 4–3; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
46 February 1 @ Toronto W 113–90 Dwight Howard (29) Dwight Howard (14) Jameer Nelson (10) Air Canada Centre
19,800		 36–10
47 February 2 Dallas L 95–105 Dwight Howard (35) Dwight Howard (11) Hedo Türkoğlu (4) Amway Arena
16,551		 36–11
48 February 4 L.A. Clippers W 125–96 Anthony Johnson (25) Dwight Howard (15) Hedo Türkoğlu (6) Amway Arena
16,101		 37–11
49 February 6 @ Indiana L 102–107 Dwight Howard (21) Dwight Howard (20) Hedo Türkoğlu (11) Conseco Fieldhouse
13,559		 37–12
50 February 8 New Jersey W 101–84 Dwight Howard (30) Dwight Howard (16) Hedo Türkoğlu (8) Amway Arena
16,533		 38–12
51 February 11 Denver L 73–82 Dwight Howard (16) Dwight Howard (15) Hedo Türkoğlu (5) Amway Arena
17,461		 38–13
52 February 17 Charlotte W 107–102 (OT) Dwight Howard (45) Dwight Howard (19) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
17,461		 39–13
53 February 18 @ New Orleans L 85–117 Rashard Lewis (17) Marcin Gortat, Dwight Howard (8) Rashard Lewis (8) New Orleans Arena
16,651		 39–14
54 February 20 @ Charlotte W 92–80 Hedo Türkoğlu (24) Dwight Howard (16) Rafer Alston (8) Time Warner Cable Arena
19,244		 40–14
55 February 22 Miami W 122–99 Dwight Howard (32) Dwight Howard (17) Rafer Alston (9) Amway Arena
17,461		 41–14
56 February 24 @ Chicago L 102–120 Dwight Howard (26) Dwight Howard (12) Rashard Lewis, Rafer Alston (5) United Center
21,902		 41–15
57 February 25 @ New York W 114–109 Hedo Türkoğlu (33) Dwight Howard (21) Rashard Lewis (4) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 42–15
58 February 27 Detroit L 85–93 Dwight Howard (21) Dwight Howard (13) Rafer Alston (6) Amway Arena
17,461		 42–16
59 February 28 @ Philadelphia W 106–100 Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu (23) Dwight Howard (8) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Wachovia Center
19,703		 43–16
March: 12–2 (home: 7–0; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
60 March 3 Phoenix W 111–99 Rashard Lewis (29) Rashard Lewis (12) Hedo Türkoğlu, Rafer Alston (6) Amway Arena
17,461		 44–16
61 March 6 New Jersey W 105–102 Dwight Howard (26) Dwight Howard (15) Rafer Alston (6) Amway Arena
17,461		 45–16
62 March 8 @ Boston W 86–79 Dwight Howard (18) Dwight Howard (15) Rafer Alston (8) TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		 46–16
63 March 9 @ Detroit L 94–98 Dwight Howard (27) Dwight Howard (14) Rafer Alston (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,039		 46–17
64 March 11 Chicago W 107–79 Tony Battie (18) Marcin Gortat (15) Rafer Alston, Anthony Johnson (6) Amway Arena
17,461		 47–17
65 March 13 @ Washington W 112–103 Mickaël Piétrus (21) Dwight Howard (13) Dwight Howard (7) Verizon Center
18,152		 48–17
66 March 15 Utah W 105–87 Dwight Howard (28) Dwight Howard (20) Hedo Türkoğlu (8) Amway Arena
17,461		 49–17
67 March 17 @ Cleveland L 93–97 Rafer Alston (23) Dwight Howard (15) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Quicken Loans Arena
20,562		 49–18
68 March 18 @ Milwaukee W 106–80 Dwight Howard (28) Dwight Howard (12) Dwight Howard, Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Bradley Center
13,819		 50–18
69 March 21 New York W 110–103 Rashard Lewis (27) Marcin Gortat (8) Hedo Türkoğlu (9) Amway Arena
17,461		 51–18
70 March 23 @ New York W 106–102 Dwight Howard (29) Dwight Howard (14) Hedo Türkoğlu (3) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 52–18
71 March 25 Boston W 84–82 Dwight Howard (24) Dwight Howard (21) Rafer Alston (6) Amway Arena
17,461		 53–18
72 March 27 Milwaukee W 110–94 Rashard Lewis (19) Marcin Gortat (11) Dwight Howard, Rafer Alston (5) Amway Arena
17,461		 54–18
73 March 30 @ Miami W 101–95 Dwight Howard (22) Dwight Howard (18) Hedo Türkoğlu, Rafer Alston (5) American Airlines Arena
19,600		 55–18
April: 4–5 (home: 3–2; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
74 April 1 Toronto L 95–99 Dwight Howard (30) Dwight Howard (9) Hedo Türkoğlu (6) Amway Arena
17,461		 55–19
75 April 3 Cleveland W 116–87 Rashard Lewis (22) Dwight Howard (11) Rafer Alston (10) Amway Arena
17,461		 56–19
76 April 4 @ Atlanta W 88–82 Dwight Howard (21) Dwight Howard (23) Dwight Howard (5) Philips Arena
19,608		 57–19
77 April 7 @ Houston L 83–93 Rashard Lewis (22) Rashard Lewis (12) Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu (4) Toyota Center
18,389		 57–20
78 April 8 Memphis W 81–78 Hedo Türkoğlu (20) Dwight Howard (13) Hedo Türkoğlu (7) Amway Arena
17,461		 58–20
79 April 10 New York L 95–105 Hedo Türkoğlu (24) Dwight Howard (14) Hedo Türkoğlu, Rafer Alston (5) Amway Arena
17,461		 58–21
80 April 11 @ New Jersey L 93–103 Hedo Türkoğlu (16) Dwight Howard (8) Rafer Alston (8) Izod Center
17,123		 58–22
81 April 13 @ Milwaukee L 80–98 Courtney Lee (17) Marcin Gortat (18) Rafer Alston (4) Bradley Center
14,683		 58–23
82 April 15 Charlotte W 98–73 Tony Battie (21) Dwight Howard (12) Mickaël Piétrus (5) Amway Arena
17,461		 59–23
2015–16 season schedule

Playoffs

The Magic drew the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. With the series tied at two wins for each team, Game 5 saw Vivani an incident in the 1st quarter involving Dwight Howard throwing an elbow at 76ers center Samuel Dalembert. Howard was assessed a technical foul but was not ejected from the game. The NBA reviewed the play and suspended Howard for Game 6.[7] A second incident involving an elbow from Dwight Howard happened in Game 5 not long after the elbow to Dalembert. This time however, Magic rookie Courtney Lee was the recipient of the hit from his teammate. Lee left the game and did not return. Suffering a fractured sinus, it was announced that Lee was expected to have surgery and could miss the remainder of the postseason.[9] Neither player's absence would prove costly to Orlando in Game 6, who won the series with a blowout on the road, and Lee returned to action in the next series wearing a protective face mask, such as one worn by Richard Hamilton.

In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Magic faced the defending champion Boston Celtics. Facing a 3–2 series deficit, the Magic tied the series with a home game victory in Game 6 and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals by winning Game 7 on the road, ending Boston's 32–0 undefeated record when leading the series 3–2. Assistant Coach Patrick Ewing had guaranteed a win in Game 7.[10]

Returning to the conference finals for the first time since 1996, the Magic's opponent was the Cleveland Cavaliers, who compiled the league's best regular season record led by the season's MVP, LeBron James. That didn't stop the Magic as they closed the series out at home in Game 6, winning 103–90 as Dwight Howard scored 40 points, a career high for him in a playoff game. The Magic won the series 4–2, the Eastern Conference championship, and the right to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals.

After dropping the first two games in the series, the Magic finally won their first ever game in the finals in Game 3. With the franchise losing their first six finals games 1995 and 2009 combined, it was the second most games a team had lost in the finals before earning their first win.[11] However, in Game 4 the Magic lost to the Lakers 99–91 in overtime; the Lakers took a 3–1 series lead and won again in Game 5, thus ending the Magic's longest playoff run in team history and ending up 1–8 in the finals.

Game log
2009 playoff game log
First Round: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1April 19PhiladelphiaL 98–100 Dwight Howard (31)Dwight Howard (16)Rafer Alston (5)Amway Arena
17,461		0–1
2April 22PhiladelphiaW 96–87 Courtney Lee (24)Dwight Howard (10)Rashard Lewis (6)Amway Arena
17,461		1–1
3April 24@ PhiladelphiaL 94–96 Dwight Howard (36)Dwight Howard (11)Courtney Lee (5)Wachovia Center
16,492		1–2
4April 26@ PhiladelphiaW 84–81 Dwight Howard (18)Dwight Howard (18)Rafer Alston (5)Wachovia Center
16,464		2–2
5April 28PhiladelphiaW 91–78 Howard, Lewis (24)Dwight Howard (24)Alston, Türkoğlu (4)Amway Arena
17,461		3–2
6April 30@ PhiladelphiaW 114–89 Rashard Lewis (29)Marcin Gortat (15)Rafer Alston (10)Wachovia Center
16,691		4–2
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 4@ BostonW 95–90 Rashard Lewis (18)Dwight Howard (22)Rafer Alston (7)TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		1–0
2May 6@ BostonL 94–112 Lewis, Piétrus (17)Dwight Howard (12)Anthony Johnson (7)TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		1–1
3May 8BostonW 117–96 Rashard Lewis (28)Dwight Howard (14)Hedo Türkoğlu (4)Amway Arena
17,461		2–1
4May 10BostonL 94–95 Dwight Howard (23)Dwight Howard (17)JJ Redick (7)Amway Arena
17,461		2–2
5May 12@ BostonL 88–92 Rashard Lewis (19)Dwight Howard (17)Hedo Türkoğlu (7)TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		2–3
6May 14BostonW 83–75 Dwight Howard (23)Dwight Howard (22)Alston, Lewis, Türkoğlu (3)Amway Arena
17,461		3–3
7May 17@ BostonW 101–82 Hedo Türkoğlu (25)Dwight Howard (16)Hedo Türkoğlu (12)TD Banknorth Garden
18,624		4–3
Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 20@ ClevelandW 107–106 Dwight Howard (30)Dwight Howard (13)Hedo Türkoğlu (14)Quicken Loans Arena
20,562		1–0
2May 22@ ClevelandL 95–96 Rashard Lewis (23)Dwight Howard (18)Howard, Johnson, Türkoğlu (4)Quicken Loans Arena
20,562		1–1
3May 24ClevelandW 99–89 Dwight Howard (24)Hedo Türkoğlu (10)Hedo Türkoğlu (7)Amway Arena
17,461		2–1
4May 26ClevelandW 116–114 (OT)Dwight Howard (27)Dwight Howard (14)Hedo Türkoğlu (8)Amway Arena
17,461		3–1
5May 28@ ClevelandL 102–112 Hedo Türkoğlu (29)Dwight Howard (10)Rafer Alston (4)Quicken Loans Arena
20,562		3–2
6May 30ClevelandW 103–90 Dwight Howard (40)Dwight Howard (14)Hedo Türkoğlu (5)Amway Arena
17,461		4–2
NBA Finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1June 4@ L.A. LakersL 75–100 Mickaël Piétrus (14)Dwight Howard (15)Jameer Nelson (4)Staples Center
18,997		0–1
2June 7@ L.A. LakersL 96–101 (OT)Rashard Lewis (34)Dwight Howard (16)Rashard Lewis (7)Staples Center
18,997		0–2
3June 9L.A. LakersW 108–104 Howard, Lewis (21)Dwight Howard (14)Hedo Türkoğlu (7)Amway Arena
17,461		1–2
4June 11L.A. LakersL 91–99 (OT)Hedo Türkoğlu (25)Dwight Howard (21)Rashard Lewis (4)Amway Arena
17,461		1–3
5June 14L.A. LakersL 86–99 Rashard Lewis (18)Howard, Lewis (10)Lewis, Nelson (4)Amway Arena
17,461		1–4
2009 playoff schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game Source: [12]

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dwight Howard797935.70.57200.59413.81.412.920.6
Rashard Lewis797936.20.4390.3970.8365.72.610.617.7
Hedo Türkoğlu777736.60.4130.3560.8075.34.90.80.216.8
Jameer Nelson424231.20.5030.4530.8873.55.41.20.116.7
Rafer Alston292829.50.4130.3170.7072.95.11.80.112
Mickaël Piétrus542524.60.4130.3590.7093.31.20.60.49.4
Courtney Lee774225.20.450.4040.832.31.210.28.4
J.J. Redick64517.40.3910.3740.8711.71.10.306
Keith Bogans361521.90.360.3330.8753.10.90.60.15.3
Anthony Johnson801218.50.4040.3910.7531.82.50.60.15.3
Tony Battie77315.60.4890.2220.6593.60.40.30.34.8
Marcin Gortat63312.60.56710.5784.50.20.30.83.8
Jeremy Richardson1207.80.2860.3530.51.20.3003.1
Tyronn Lue1409.20.3950.3530.6670.810.103
Brian Cook21070.3830.440.8331.30.20.103
Adonal Foyle906.60.63600.52.90.100.91.9

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Dwight Howard232339.3.601.000.63615.301.90.872.6120.3
Rashard Lewis242441.1.448.394.7846.42.91.04.5419.0
Hedo Türkoğlu242438.9.427.386.8174.504.8.75.1715.8
Rafer Alston232332.2.380.319.7502.404.11.43.1712.2
Mickaël Piétrus24025.8.483.385.7232.60.6.75.5410.5
Courtney Lee211626.2.435.273.8851.901.3.90.148.0
JJ Redick16820.4.373.404.9291.201.9.50.066.0
Tyronn Lue104.01.0001.000.000.00.0.00.005.0
Anthony Johnson19114.7.376.300.5001.402.1.58.004.3
Jameer Nelson5018.0.348.167.5001.402.8.20.003.8
Marcin Gortat24111.3.654.000.6253.20.1.38.633.3
Tony Battie2106.1.467.000.6001.00.1.00.142.1
Adonal Foyle202.0.000.000.000.50.0.00..00.0
Jeremy Richardson102.0.000.000.000.00.0.00.00.0

Awards and records

Records
  • Orlando broke the 3-point record with 23 made 3-pointers on January 13, 2008 in Sacramento.
  • Rashard Lewis led the league in 3-point field goals.

Transactions

Trades
July 11, 2008
 To New Jersey Nets----Keyon Dooling[13] To Orlando Magic----Cash considerations
February 5, 2009
 To Milwaukee Bucks----Keith Bogans To Orlando Magic----Tyronn Lue
February 19, 2009
 To Memphis Grizzlies----Orlando 1st round pick (2009)
Adonal Foyle (re-signed with Orlando)
Mike Wilks		 To Houston Rockets----Kyle Lowry
Brian Cook		 To Orlando Magic----Rafer Alston

Free agents

References
  1. Magic beat Jazz despite Dwight Howard missing his first game as a pro
  2. "Orlando Magic News Headlines". NBA.com.
  3. "Magic's Jameer Nelson to have shoulder surgery, likely out for season". Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  4. "Magic Make Deal For Rafer Alston in Three-Way". Archived from the original on February 22, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  5. "Magic's Dwight Howard wins NBA Defensive Player of Year". Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  6. Lee injured after getting elbowed
  7. Howard out for Game 6
  8. Hot shooting, balanced scoring lift Magic in Game 3
  9. Lee could miss rest of playoffs
  10. Golen, Jimmy (May 18, 2009). "Magic Moment: Orlando beats Boston to advance". Yahoo.com. Associated Press.
  11. Hot shooting, balanced scoring lift Magic in Game 3
  12. "Roster and Statistics". Basketball-Reference.
  13. "SLAM! Sports - Basketball". Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  14. "SLAM! Sports - Basketball". Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  15. "SLAM! Sports - Basketball". Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.