As LeBron James pulled up for the final shot, Orlando's crowd gasped, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy gulped and time stood still.
Spinning through the air, James' 3-pointer looked good.
Not this time, MVP. This was a Magic night.
Dwight Howard scored 10 points in overtime and Orlando, raining down 3-pointers like a Florida thunderstorm, withstood 44 points and the last-second fling by James for a 116-114 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
The resilient Magic, who have overcome injuries, double-digit deficits and a spat between their star and coach, are one win from their first trip to the NBA finals since 1995.
Howard's two free throws with 21 seconds remaining capped a 10-point effort in the extra session as the center nicknamed "Superman" finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds to help the Magic leave LeBron James's Cavs facing a stunning series defeat.
"Now it's time to close it out," Howard told reporters after guiding his team to a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
"We have to have the killer instinct. If we want to win a championship this is what it takes."
League MVP James recorded 44 points to reach the 40-point barrier for the third time in the series, but all those games have ended in losses for the top seeded Cavs.
James made two free throws with less than a second remaining in regulation to send the game into the extra session, but his three-point attempt to win the contest at the overtime buzzer hit the rim of the basket before bouncing away.
Owners of the best record during the regular season, Cleveland won their first eight games in the playoffs, but have struggled to match up against the Magic, while dominant displays from James have not been emulated by teammates.
Cavaliers guard Mo Williams had 18 points, but shot just 5-for-15 from the field, while Delonte West added 17. Orlando made 17 three-pointers, a postseason franchise-record, with six from point guard Rafer Alston who netted 26 points.
Howard scored the first six points in overtime to put the Magic a step closer to their first NBA Finals since 1995. Orlando can close out the series in Game 5 on Thursday in Cleveland.
"It gets harder and harder," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "When you've got a guy as great as (James) on the other side, you're a long way from being done."
James, averaging 42.2 points per game during the conference finals, may need more heroics to help the Cavaliers become just the ninth team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit.
"I have to figure out a way not to have eight (turnovers)," said James, who also added 12 rebounds and seven assists.
"That's unacceptable to me."
Reuters
(China Daily May 28, 2009)
