LBJ, Cavaliers Fall into 1-3 Hole After an OT Thriller in Orlando

The Cleveland Cavaliers were down 2 with seconds remaining. Cavalier Nation was in panic mode, thousands certainly afraid to look at their televisions, thousands more certainly on the brink of tears. But this time, a miracolous buzzer beating shot would be more difficult. The Orlando Magic had learned their lesson after letting LeBron James squirt free for a game-winning 3-pointer in Game 2. This time, they put two defenders on him. This time, it seemed like he wouldn’t even get the ball. This time his 38-footer didn’t contain a miracle. This time, there would be no talk of history, no talk of exorcising demons of seasons past. This time, James could not save the Cavs. He hit an absolutely sick 3-pointer from in front of the Orlando bench as his momentum was carrying him out of bounds with 4.1 seconds left, making it a one-point game, but his special powers dried up at the end as his last-gasp shot from just inside midcourt, near the scorer’s table, was off-target.

Source: nba.com, yahoo.com, getty | From LeBron_NBA_20…

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. In the 62-year history of the NBA, 190 teams have taken a 3-1 lead in a playoff series. One hundred, eighty-two of them, or 95.6 percent, have won. Even in a series when James has set a conference finals record for points scored through the first four games with 169 (averging 42.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists), he can’t always make the right play — or hit the huge shot. LeBron James has now scored at least 25 points in 15 straight postseason games – (dating back to last postseason) – easily surpassing 13-game streaks by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2002-03. The last player with a 14-game streak was Michael Jordan in 1992-93. Through the first four games of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron is averaging 42.2 points per contest. In 58 career postseason games, the young King has tallied 29.3 ppg – surpassing Jerry West for the third-highest playoff average of all-time.

Photos Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE via Getty Images. Photos by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images, Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images, Elsa/Getty Images.

Greg Huber:

View Comments (14)

  • the only thing im witnessing is the growth of the Magic. They match up better with either WCF team Magic vs Lakers would go 7 and be a pretty good series. the Magic are too long and too good for the Cavs. They seem to be better coached as well! Never thought I'd say this "Good Luck keeping the King around after next season?"

  • BEAT magic,never give up.
    Lebron,Mo,Varejao,Delonte,Zydrunas,ben....never give
    up!

  • [quote comment="31124"]the only thing im witnessing is the growth of the Magic. They match up better with either WCF team Magic vs Lakers would go 7 and be a pretty good series. the Magic are too long and too good for the Cavs. They seem to be better coached as well! Never thought I'd say this "Good Luck keeping the King around after next season?"[/quote]
    Chances are bad and were outmatched it's done with...

  • I am still a believer and I don't think it's over until it's over. Last night the game was within reach. My heart broke after Lewis made that go a-head 3 at the end of the 4th quarter. Now it's either go home or Cavs need to bring their A-game and show everybody why they have the best record in the NBA.

  • Oh my! I've watch game 4 and refs are calling bad calls. There's this call when Mo's inbound play with 1 ticks left and refs called a 24 sec shot clock violation and it to think it wasn't even a second it was somewhat .4 or .5 sec and there's this call was when LeBron hits the 3 and fakes it with Howard bumping him in the air with no foul. Damn it!! Cavs wake up its do or die!!

  • If the rest of the team can start actually making shots then we still got a chance :???:

  • [quote comment="31154"]If the rest of the team can start actually making shots then we still got a chance :???:[/quote]

    THANK YOU!!!!
    that's is the reason they are down you can't make lebron take on a whole team by himself!!! they need to learn how to switch off the pick and rolls and cover the perimeter better, and someone needs to hit some shots!

  • they missed like 6 open 3's west cant shoot for his life. Lebron is still carrying the team and with those numbers they still lose. Take lebron out of the equation and the cavs never see the playoffs ever again. Like i said they themselves causing james to go to another team in 2010. I if they lose this year i hope he does cuz i feel bad for him. His team sucks!!! Still i wont give up on james till the last minute of his last game this season. Go bron!

  • this series is so damn close, I mean the cavs can easily be up 3-1 or already be out 0-4, last sec shots deciding every game both ways.

    Cavs offensively looked better the last game, take the ball to the rim, West needs to stay in the low post he seemed to be doing good in game 4 and Lebron will either get a easy bucket or get fouled every time.

    Defensively, learn how to come off the screens better, forget double teaming Howard I would rather have him shooting 2 at the line then having wide open 3's all game even if he's been hitting is foul shots. Hell put Joe Smith in and let him use some fouls on Howard, That way Andy and Z don't get into foul trouble late.

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