The Orlando Magic needed some motivation from the home crowd to get their swagger back and that is exactly what happened in Game 3 Tuesday night. The Magic down 2 games answered back with a strong offensive performance and was able to post 108 points to beat the Lakers by 4 points. Orlando impressively knocked down 62% as a team from the field marking their best all around effort thus far throughout the playoffs. Los Angeles played a solid game, but just didn’t have the spark they needed to capture the victory. The Lakers also were very strong from the floor knocking down 51% as a team. Neither team had over 30 rebounds in the game just to put on emphasis on how well both teams were shooting Tuesday night. However, now Orlando has some confidence back on their side and is hunger to grab another victory this Thursday night at home to even up the series.

The Orlando Magic had a chance in the NBA Finals to make the Los Angeles Lakers sweat and it remains to be seen if they get another one. Courtney Lee missed a layup with less than a second remaining in Game 2 and the Magic ended up losing Game 2 in overtime. Now the series shifts to Orlando where the Magic face a must-win Game 3 on Tuesday.

The opening round of the 2009 NBA Finals was expected to be a slugfest between two of the NBA’s finest heavyweights. As expected the first half lived up to the hype as the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers traded the lead in a back and forth game. However, in the 2^nd half the Lakers 3 time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant exploded in the 3^rd quarter dropping 18 points and Los Angeles went on to a convincing opening victory. Orlando appeared stunned in the defeat as they were held to one of the worse offensive performances of the season. The Magic only managed to tally in 75 points in a horrific 29% team shooting effort. Orlando must find a way to regroup this Sunday night and avoid Los Angeles taking total control in the series. The Lakers on the other hand could nearly end any dreams the Magic may have at their first ever NBA Title with another victory. However, expect the Magic to come out hungry to even the score after a dreadful performance in Game 1.

The 2009 NBA Playoffs have not disappointed sports fans in any kind of way. This year’s post-season play has been highlighted by grueling series, game winning shots, upsets, and more. Basketball fans have witnesses some of the most exciting playoff games in years and we are now left with only two teams battling for an NBA Championship. The Orlando Magic were among the top teams in the Eastern Conference all season. However, after Jameer Nelson was lost from a shoulder injury the Magic quickly became an underdog in the shadow of Cleveland and Boston. However, the Magic are perhaps playing their best basketball of the season without one of the major scoring threats and are now poised to battle the sizeable favorites Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles cruised through the regular season nearly unchallenged in the Western Conference. The Lakers needed 7 games to overcome a hungry Rockets team in the Conference Semi-Finals and took down Denver in 6 games to win the West. Los Angeles now enters the 2009 NBA Finals favored to take home their first title since 2002.