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 of the playoffs, highlighted by forward Hedo Türkoğlu's game winner in game four of that series. They followed it up by defeating the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics in a tough, hard-fought seven-game series in the semi-finals. Finally, they defeated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in six games in the conference finals, thanks to Howard's 40 points and 10 rebounds in Game 6, to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995, but would lose to the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

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.
 * 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).
 * 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.
 * February 19: As part of a three-way trade, the Magic acquired Rafer Alston from the Houston Rockets.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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. 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.

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.

Game log
17,461 16,139
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * October 29
 * Atlanta
 * Dwight Howard (22)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Anthony Johnson (3)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 0–1
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * October 31
 * @ Memphis
 * Rashard Lewis (23)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * FedExForum
 * FedExForum
 * 0–2

16,704 15,606 16,407 16,911 14,210 18,185 20,085 12,639 16,353 14,699 17,461 16,245 14,985 13,295 17,172
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 3
 * November 1
 * Sacramento
 * Dwight Howard (29)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Rashard Lewis (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 1–2
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 4
 * November 3
 * Chicago
 * Dwight Howard (22)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 2–2
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 5
 * November 6
 * Philadelphia
 * Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu (20)
 * Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu, Dwight Howard (8)
 * Jameer Nelson (9)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 3–2
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 6
 * November 8
 * Washington
 * Dwight Howard (31)
 * Dwight Howard (16)
 * Jameer Nelson (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 4–2
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * November 10
 * Portland
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (35)
 * Dwight Howard (19)
 * Jameer Nelson (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 4–3
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 8
 * November 12
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Dwight Howard (30)
 * Dwight Howard (19)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Ford Center
 * Ford Center
 * 5–3
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 9
 * November 14
 * @ Dallas
 * Rashard Lewis (23)
 * Dwight Howard (13)
 * Anthony Johnson (6)
 * American Airlines Center
 * American Airlines Center
 * 6–3
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 10
 * November 16
 * @ Charlotte
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (20)
 * Tony Battie, Dwight Howard (7)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (4)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * 7–3
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 11
 * November 18
 * Toronto
 * Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu, Jameer Nelson (22)
 * Dwight Howard (9)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 8–3
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 12
 * November 21
 * @ Indiana
 * Dwight Howard (24)
 * Dwight Howard (17)
 * Jameer Nelson (9)
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * 9–3
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 13
 * November 22
 * Houston
 * Jameer Nelson (21)
 * Dwight Howard (9)
 * Jameer Nelson (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 9–4
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 14
 * November 24
 * Milwaukee
 * Dwight Howard (24)
 * Dwight Howard (13)
 * Jameer Nelson (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 10–4
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 15
 * November 26
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Wachovia Center
 * Wachovia Center
 * 11–4
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 16
 * November 27
 * @ Washington
 * Dwight Howard (26)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Anthony Johnson (12)
 * Verizon Center
 * Verizon Center
 * 12–4
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 17
 * November 29
 * Indiana
 * Dwight Howard (32)
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Anthony Johnson, JJ Redick (4)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 13–4

18,624 15,705 16,812 15,222 20,642 18,422 19,911 18,844 17,461 17,461 17,461 17,461 17,003 22,076 21,861
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * December 1
 * @ Boston
 * Rashard Lewis (30)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu, Anthony Johnson (4)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 13–5
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 19
 * December 3
 * Minnesota
 * Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard (23)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Rashard Lewis (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 14–5
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 20
 * December 5
 * Oklahoma City
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Dwight Howard (23)
 * Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 15–5
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 21
 * December 8
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * Dwight Howard (23)
 * Dwight Howard (22)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (6)
 * Staples Center
 * Staples Center
 * 16–5
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 22
 * December 9
 * @ Portland
 * Rashard Lewis (27)
 * Rashard Lewis (9)
 * Jameer Nelson (6)
 * Rose Garden
 * Rose Garden
 * 17–5
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 23
 * December 12
 * @ Phoenix
 * Dwight Howard (19)
 * Rashard Lewis (8)
 * Jameer Nelson, Anthony Johnson (6)
 * US Airways Center
 * US Airways Center
 * 17–6
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 24
 * December 13
 * @ Utah
 * Rashard Lewis (27)
 * Rashard Lewis (9)
 * Jameer Nelson (6)
 * EnergySolutions Arena
 * EnergySolutions Arena
 * 18–6
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 25
 * December 15
 * @ Golden State
 * Jameer Nelson (32)
 * Marcin Gortat (13)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (8)
 * Oracle Arena
 * Oracle Arena
 * 19–6
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 26
 * December 18
 * San Antonio
 * Jameer Nelson (24)
 * Dwight Howard (13)
 * Jameer Nelson (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 20–6
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 27
 * December 20
 * L.A. Lakers
 * Jameer Nelson (27)
 * Dwight Howard (12)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 21–6
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 28
 * December 22
 * Golden State
 * Jameer Nelson (22)
 * Dwight Howard (11)
 * Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 22–6
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 29
 * December 25
 * New Orleans
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (20)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 23–6
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 30
 * December 27
 * @ Minnesota
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (26)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu, Rashard Lewis (7)
 * Jameer Nelson (8)
 * Target Center
 * Target Center
 * 24–6
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * December 29
 * @ Detroit
 * Rashard Lewis (23)
 * Dwight Howard (18)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (8)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 24–7
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 32
 * December 31
 * @ Chicago
 * Rashard Lewis (21)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Jameer Nelson (5)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 25–7

17,461 19,322 16,011 13,748 17,461 18,216 11,168 18,997 19,749 17,461 19,600 17,461 17,461
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 33
 * January 2
 * Miami
 * Rashard Lewis (17)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 26–7
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 34
 * January 4
 * @ Toronto
 * Dwight Howard (39)
 * Dwight Howard (8)
 * Rashard Lewis (9)
 * Air Canada Centre
 * Air Canada Centre
 * 26–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 35
 * January 6
 * Washington
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (22)
 * Dwight Howard (16)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 27–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 36
 * January 7
 * @ Atlanta
 * Dwight Howard (23)
 * Dwight Howard (19)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (8)
 * Philips Arena
 * Philips Arena
 * 28–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 37
 * January 9
 * Atlanta
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (21)
 * Marcin Gortat (11)
 * Jameer Nelson (9)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 29–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 38
 * January 11
 * @ San Antonio
 * Dwight Howard (24)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (5)
 * AT&T Center
 * AT&T Center
 * 30–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 39
 * January 13
 * @ Sacramento
 * Dwight Howard (25)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Jameer Nelson (11)
 * ARCO Arena
 * ARCO Arena
 * 31–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 40
 * January 16
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * Jameer Nelson (28)
 * Dwight Howard (20)
 * Jameer Nelson (8)
 * Staples Center
 * Staples Center
 * 32–8
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 41
 * January 17
 * @ Denver
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (31)
 * Dwight Howard (20)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu, Jameer Nelson (5)
 * Pepsi Center
 * Pepsi Center
 * 33–8
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 42
 * January 22
 * Boston
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (22)
 * Dwight Howard (11)
 * Jameer Nelson (3)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 33–9
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 43
 * January 24
 * @ Miami
 * Dwight Howard (22)
 * Dwight Howard (10)
 * Jameer Nelson (7)
 * American Airlines Arena
 * American Airlines Arena
 * 33–10
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 44
 * January 27
 * Indiana
 * Mickaël Piétrus (27)
 * Mickaël Piétrus, Dwight Howard (10)
 * Jameer Nelson, Hedo Türkoğlu (8)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 34–10
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 45
 * January 29
 * Cleveland
 * Dwight Howard (22)
 * Dwight Howard (18)
 * Rashard Lewis (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 35–10

19,800 16,551 16,101 13,559 16,533 17,461 17,461 16,651 19,244 17,461 21,902 19,763 17,461 19,703
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 46
 * February 1
 * @ Toronto
 * Dwight Howard (29)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Jameer Nelson (10)
 * Air Canada Centre
 * Air Canada Centre
 * 36–10
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * February 2
 * Dallas
 * Dwight Howard (35)
 * Dwight Howard (11)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (4)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 36–11
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 48
 * February 4
 * L.A. Clippers
 * Anthony Johnson (25)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 37–11
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 49
 * February 6
 * @ Indiana
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Dwight Howard (20)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (11)
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * Conseco Fieldhouse
 * 37–12
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 50
 * February 8
 * New Jersey
 * Dwight Howard (30)
 * Dwight Howard (16)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (8)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 38–12
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * February 11
 * Denver
 * Dwight Howard (16)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 38–13
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 52
 * February 17
 * Charlotte
 * Dwight Howard (45)
 * Dwight Howard (19)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 39–13
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 18
 * @ New Orleans
 * Rashard Lewis (17)
 * Marcin Gortat, Dwight Howard (8)
 * Rashard Lewis (8)
 * New Orleans Arena
 * New Orleans Arena
 * 39–14
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 54
 * February 20
 * @ Charlotte
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (24)
 * Dwight Howard (16)
 * Rafer Alston (8)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * Time Warner Cable Arena
 * 40–14
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 55
 * February 22
 * Miami
 * Dwight Howard (32)
 * Dwight Howard (17)
 * Rafer Alston (9)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 41–14
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * February 24
 * @ Chicago
 * Dwight Howard (26)
 * Dwight Howard (12)
 * Rashard Lewis, Rafer Alston (5)
 * United Center
 * United Center
 * 41–15
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 57
 * February 25
 * @ New York
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (33)
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Rashard Lewis (4)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 42–15
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58
 * February 27
 * Detroit
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Dwight Howard (13)
 * Rafer Alston (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 42–16
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 59
 * February 28
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu (23)
 * Dwight Howard (8)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Wachovia Center
 * Wachovia Center
 * 43–16

17,461 17,461 18,624 20,039 17,461 18,152 17,461 20,562 13,819 17,461 19,763 17,461 17,461 19,600
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 60
 * March 3
 * Phoenix
 * Rashard Lewis (29)
 * Rashard Lewis (12)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu, Rafer Alston (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 44–16
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 61
 * March 6
 * New Jersey
 * Dwight Howard (26)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Rafer Alston (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 45–16
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 62
 * March 8
 * @ Boston
 * Dwight Howard (18)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Rafer Alston (8)
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * TD Banknorth Garden
 * 46–16
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * March 9
 * @ Detroit
 * Dwight Howard (27)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Rafer Alston (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 46–17
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 64
 * March 11
 * Chicago
 * Tony Battie (18)
 * Marcin Gortat (15)
 * Rafer Alston, Anthony Johnson (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 47–17
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 65
 * March 13
 * @ Washington
 * Mickaël Piétrus (21)
 * Dwight Howard (13)
 * Dwight Howard (7)
 * Verizon Center
 * Verizon Center
 * 48–17
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 66
 * March 15
 * Utah
 * Dwight Howard (28)
 * Dwight Howard (20)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (8)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 49–17
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 67
 * March 17
 * @ Cleveland
 * Rafer Alston (23)
 * Dwight Howard (15)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * Quicken Loans Arena
 * 49–18
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 68
 * March 18
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Dwight Howard (28)
 * Dwight Howard (12)
 * Dwight Howard, Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Bradley Center
 * Bradley Center
 * 50–18
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 69
 * March 21
 * New York
 * Rashard Lewis (27)
 * Marcin Gortat (8)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (9)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 51–18
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 70
 * March 23
 * @ New York
 * Dwight Howard (29)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (3)
 * Madison Square Garden
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 52–18
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 71
 * March 25
 * Boston
 * Dwight Howard (24)
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Rafer Alston (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 53–18
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 72
 * March 27
 * Milwaukee
 * Rashard Lewis (19)
 * Marcin Gortat (11)
 * Dwight Howard, Rafer Alston (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 54–18
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 73
 * March 30
 * @ Miami
 * Dwight Howard (22)
 * Dwight Howard (18)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu, Rafer Alston (5)
 * American Airlines Arena
 * American Airlines Arena
 * 55–18

17,461 17,461 19,608 18,389 17,461 17,461 17,123 14,683 17,461
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * April 1
 * Toronto
 * Dwight Howard (30)
 * Dwight Howard (9)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (6)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 55–19
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 75
 * April 3
 * Cleveland
 * Rashard Lewis (22)
 * Dwight Howard (11)
 * Rafer Alston (10)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 56–19
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 76
 * April 4
 * @ Atlanta
 * Dwight Howard (21)
 * Dwight Howard (23)
 * Dwight Howard (5)
 * Philips Arena
 * Philips Arena
 * 57–19
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 77
 * April 7
 * @ Houston
 * Rashard Lewis (22)
 * Rashard Lewis (12)
 * Rashard Lewis, Hedo Türkoğlu (4)
 * Toyota Center
 * Toyota Center
 * 57–20
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 78
 * April 8
 * Memphis
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (20)
 * Dwight Howard (13)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (7)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 58–20
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * April 10
 * New York
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (24)
 * Dwight Howard (14)
 * Hedo Türkoğlu, Rafer Alston (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 58–21
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 80
 * April 11
 * @ New Jersey
 * Hedo Türkoğlu (16)
 * Dwight Howard (8)
 * Rafer Alston (8)
 * Izod Center
 * Izod Center
 * 58–22
 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 81
 * April 13
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Courtney Lee (17)
 * Marcin Gortat (18)
 * Rafer Alston (4)
 * Bradley Center
 * Bradley Center
 * 58–23
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * 82
 * April 15
 * Charlotte
 * Tony Battie (21)
 * Dwight Howard (12)
 * Mickaël Piétrus (5)
 * Amway Arena
 * Amway Arena
 * 59–23

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. 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. 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.

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. 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

 * - bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1 || April 19 || Philadelphia || || Dwight Howard (31) || Dwight Howard (16) || Rafer Alston (5) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 0–1
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 * 2 || April 22 || Philadelphia || || Courtney Lee (24) || Dwight Howard (10) || Rashard Lewis (6) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 1–1
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 * 3 || April 24 || @ Philadelphia || || Dwight Howard (36) || Dwight Howard (11) || Courtney Lee (5) || Wachovia Center 16,492 || 1–2
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 * 4 || April 26 || @ Philadelphia || || Dwight Howard (18) || Dwight Howard (18) || Rafer Alston (5) || Wachovia Center 16,464 || 2–2
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 * 5 || April 28 || Philadelphia || || Howard, Lewis (24) || Dwight Howard (24) || Alston, Türkoğlu (4) ||Amway Arena 17,461 || 3–2
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 * 6 || April 30 || @ Philadelphia || || Rashard Lewis (29) || Marcin Gortat (15) || Rafer Alston (10) || Wachovia Center 16,691 || 4–2


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 * 1 || May 4 || @ Boston || || Rashard Lewis (18) || Dwight Howard (22) || Rafer Alston (7) || TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 || 1–0
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 * 2 || May 6 || @ Boston || ||Lewis, Piétrus (17) || Dwight Howard (12) || Anthony Johnson (7) || TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 || 1–1
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 * 3 || May 8 || Boston || || Rashard Lewis (28) || Dwight Howard (14) || Hedo Türkoğlu (4) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 2–1
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 * 4 || May 10 || Boston || || Dwight Howard (23) || Dwight Howard (17) || JJ Redick (7) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 2–2
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 * 5 || May 12 || @ Boston || || Rashard Lewis (19) || Dwight Howard (17) || Hedo Türkoğlu (7) || TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 || 2–3
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 * 6 || May 14 || Boston || || Dwight Howard (23) || Dwight Howard (22) || Alston, Lewis, Türkoğlu (3) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 3–3
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 * 7 || May 17 || @ Boston || || Hedo Türkoğlu (25) || Dwight Howard (16) || Hedo Türkoğlu (12) || TD Banknorth Garden 18,624 || 4–3


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 * 1 || May 20 || @ Cleveland || || Dwight Howard (30) || Dwight Howard (13) || Hedo Türkoğlu (14) || Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 || 1–0
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 * 2 || May 22 || @ Cleveland || || Rashard Lewis (23) || Dwight Howard (18) || Howard, Johnson, Türkoğlu (4) || Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 || 1–1
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 * 3 || May 24 || Cleveland || || Dwight Howard (24) || Hedo Türkoğlu (10) || Hedo Türkoğlu (7) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 2–1
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 * 4 || May 26 || Cleveland || || Dwight Howard (27) || Dwight Howard (14) || Hedo Türkoğlu (8) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 3–1
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 * 5 || May 28 || @ Cleveland || || Hedo Türkoğlu (29) || Dwight Howard (10) || Rafer Alston (4) || Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 || 3–2
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 * 6 || May 30 || Cleveland || || Dwight Howard (40) || Dwight Howard (14) || Hedo Türkoğlu (5) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 4–2


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 * 1 || June 4 || @ L.A. Lakers || || Mickaël Piétrus (14) || Dwight Howard (15) || Jameer Nelson (4) || Staples Center 18,997 || 0–1
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 * 2 || June 7 || @ L.A. Lakers || || Rashard Lewis (34) || Dwight Howard (16) || Rashard Lewis (7) || Staples Center 18,997 || 0–2
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 * 3 || June 9 || L.A. Lakers || || Howard, Lewis (21) || Dwight Howard (14) || Hedo Türkoğlu (7) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 1–2
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 * 4 || June 11 || L.A. Lakers || || Hedo Türkoğlu (25) || Dwight Howard (21) || Rashard Lewis (4) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 1–3
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 * 5 || June 14 || L.A. Lakers || || Rashard Lewis (18) || Howard, Lewis (10) || Lewis, Nelson (4) || Amway Arena 17,461 || 1–4

Awards and records

 * Dwight Howard – Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA 1st Team, All-Defensive 1st Team, Rebounding Champion, Blocks Champion, All-Star
 * Rashard Lewis – All-Star
 * Jameer Nelson – All-Star

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.