Howard Makes Laker Brooms Disappear Like Magic

Dwight Howard takes flight en route to winning NBA's slam dunk contest wearing his now-notorious Superman cape. Howard provided some kryptonite last night in Orlando's 108-104 win over Lakers in Game 3 of NBA Finals, as Magic cut L.A.'s lead in half. (Photo courtesy of Chicago Sun-Times)

The Orlando Magic are winless in the NBA Finals no longer.

After a record 62.5% shooting effort from the field, the Magic walked off their home court at Amway Arena with a 108-104 victory over the Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals last night. The Lakers' lead in the best-of-seven series is now two games to one, with Game 4 slated to tip off at 9 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow night.

Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 21 points each; with Howard grabbing 14 rebounds as well. After a cold start to the series, Rafer Alston got his accuracy back in Game 3, pouring in 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, while Hedo Turkoglu and Mickael Pietrus chipped in with 18 each.

For Los Angeles, it was more of a struggle. Kobe Bryant led the way with 31, but seventeen of those points came in the first quarter, where he started out 7-for-8 from the field. Bryant went on to make just four of his final seventeen shots, and his 2-for-5 performance at the free throw line in the third quarter may have cost the Lakers the game. In addition, Pau Gasol scored 23, but was limited to just three rebounds as the Magic won its first NBA Finals game in franchise history.

Orlando preserved the victory in the final minute when Bryant's shot that would have tied the game at 104 was blocked by Howard and stolen by Pietrus, who was fouled by Bryant on the other end. Pietrus made both free throws to extend Orlando's lead to four, which put the icing on the cake heading into Game 4. "Howard just made a great play with his hands," said Bryant. The Lakers' star guard offered no excuses when he said Orlando "came up with the ball, simple as that."

The Magic not only came up with the ball; they came up with the win, and maybe the momentum, too.