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[Orlando Magic]

30-year Orlandoversary: O’Neal becomes first Magic player to appear in All-Star Game

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Over the years, the Orlando Magic have had their fair share of superstars. They hope they have found another in Paolo Banchero.

On this day 30 years ago, however, Shaquille O’Neal became the first player in franchise history to appear in the NBA All-Star Game. Although the Eastern Conference lost to the West in overtime in Salt Lake City, O’Neal had a strong showing in the 135-132 defeat.

In his first appearance in the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 21, 1993, O’Neal uncharacteristically shot better from the foul line than the field. O’Neal finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. He finished 4-for-9 from the field and 6-for-9 from the stripe.

As for the contest itself, it was a good one. The West led most of the way, but a jumper from New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing with eight seconds left tied the game at 119. Tim Hardaway, then of the Golden State Warriors, had a chance to win it for the West but his late off-balanced shot was no good.

In overtime, the West again led most of the way. The East had opportunities late to tie or take the lead, but could not deliver.

Michael Jordan, of the Chicago Bulls, led all scorers with 30 points for the East in the loss. Mark Price, of the Cleveland Cavaliers, added 19 points for the Eastern Conference.

Local fans went home happy as Utah Jazz standouts Karl Malone and John Stockton shared MVP honors in the West victory. Malone led the West with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Stockton added nine points and 15 assists. David Robinson, of the San Antonio Spurs, also had a strong game in the victory with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Since the 1993 exhibition contest, Anfernee Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson and Nikola Vucevic had all earned All-Star honors as members of the Magic. O’Neal, however, was the first Orlando player to play in the All-Star Game when he did so on this day three decades ago.

Source: https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.c...first-magic-player-to-appear-in-all-star-game

 

[Orlando Magic]

Game 59: Magic vs. Raptors GameThread

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Who: Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors

When: Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

TV: Bally Sports Florida

GAME 59 TONIGHT
RAPTORS
Toronto, Ontario
7:30 P.M.
@BallySportsFL @BallyMagic (‘Magic Live’ starts at 7 P.M.)
Bally Sports App; Bally Sports+
@969thegame
https://t.co/j9Hljw5O2X#MagicTogether

What are they wearing? pic.twitter.com/23rdROTZDD

— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) February 14, 2023

Source: https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2023/2/14/23599427/game-59-magic-vs-raptors-gamethread

 

[Orlando Magic]

30-year Orlandoversary: Magic outlast Knicks in first-ever triple-overtime game

Photo credit should read DAVID MILLS/AFP via Getty Images

For the Orlando Magic, Valentine’s Day has had its quirks over the years. In 1990, Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan was infamously forced to wear a nameless No. 12 jersey after his came up missing at Orlando Arena.

On this day 30 years ago, the Magic played their first triple-overtime game. Shaquille O’Neal bounced back from a poor offensive start with several key defensive plays down the stretch as the Magic topped the New York Knicks, 102-100.

Offensively, the contest was far from a thing of beauty at Orlando Arena on Feb. 14, 1993. The Magic led 58-54 at the end of three quarters, but most of the final period was dominated by the Knicks. New York led by six with 50 seconds left, but Nick Anderson’s 3-pointer with less than nine seconds remaining knotted the score at 79.

For most of the night, O’Neal was outplayed by New York standout center Patrick Ewing. With time ticking away in regulation, however, O’Neal was able to block Ewing’s shot to force overtime.

During regulation, O’Neal went just 3-for-17 from the field, but in the extra periods, he came through at both ends of the floor. O’Neal scored 13 points over the three overtimes and blocked six shots.

In the first overtime, the Magic trailed by as many as five, but after Ewing fouled out with 13.7 seconds left, O’Neal came through to tie the game in an uncharacteristic way – at the foul line. The big man cashed in on two clutch free throws to tie the score at 90.

In the second overtime, the Knicks again had a chance to win at the buzzer, but O’Neal was able to swat away John Starks’ jumper to preserve the 98-98 tie. In the third overtime, the teams combined for just six points. The good news for the Magic is that they had four of those points.

O’Neal scored all four Orlando points in the third overtime with the last coming with 1:15 remaining. With 36 seconds left, he blocked Herb Williams’ jumper to help preserve the victory. Greg Anthony would get an open look for three that would have won the game, but it was an air-ball.

O’Neal finished a blocked shot shy of a triple-double, totaling 21 points, 19 rebounds, and nine blocks. Anderson led Orlando with 24 points, seven assists, and four steals while Donald Royal came up big off the Magic bench with 15 points. Scott Skiles added 14 points. Anthony Bowie and Tom Tolbert each finished with 11 in the victory.

Ewing had a big night for the Knicks with 34 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks before fouling out. Starks added 26 points, but on just 10-for-36 shooting. Anthony and Anthony Mason each scored 10 in the loss.

For Orlando, the victory not only served as its first triple-overtime game, but it ended the Knicks’ 7-game winning streak. It came on this day three decades ago.

Source: https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.c...ast-knicks-in-first-ever-triple-overtime-game