Game Three
The series is tied one apiece.
I watched the first quarter, but didn’t write down any notes, and turned off until late in the third quarter — so the game time report will start there.
First Half
The Philadelphia 76ers gradually build an 11 point lead, winning the first quarter by 6 points and the second quarter by 5 points.
Third Quarter
Philadelphia hit the first two shots of the third quarter to build a 16 point lead.
After a timeout that came midway through the quarter, the Magic made a sterling run. Mickael Pietrus hit back to back three pointers to cap off a 17-2 run over the course of four minutes.
- Also four Dwight Howard FTs, and a Dwight dunk. A Lewis three and a Rafer layup.
This is the point in the game where I tuned in.
Two minutes to play in the third — nothing much of interest happens the rest of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Sixers lead 80-77
Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis are a combined 5-15 from the field, and also have 6 turnovers — 5 of which are from Hedo. Lewis was 0-4 from the field in the first half but started to get it together in the third. Dwight Howard has 25 points on 12 shots and 10 FTs, and has added 8 rebounds for good measure.
- Andre Miller splits a pick and roll defense beautifully up at the three point line, he slithers into the paint at the free throw line, and hits a leaning jumper
- Dwight Howard posts up on the left block, backs down Theo with three dribbles, and his a quasi jump hook/layup with the left hand.
- Lou Williams runs the pick and roll with Ratliff on the other end, Theo cuts nicely, nice pass, slam dunk. Theo doing good work on those pick and rolls during this series.
- Thaddeus Young posts up down on the left block, turns baseline, lefty hook, good.
Timeout — 8:30 to play
- Hedo Turkoglu and Courtney Lee both missed running layups
- Lou Williams blows two free throws.
- Neither team is taking advantage of this period in the game
6 minutes to play — 86-83 Phily
- Rafer Alston runs some pick and pop action with Lewis out on the left wing, Phily trap the ball, Rafer sends it over to Lewis on the left baseline, three pointer on the way, good.
- Iguodala drives hard to the rim, he goes towards the skies, Howard meets him up top but fouls Iggy. Iggy hits two FTs.
- Alston air balls a three pointer
Four and a half minutes to play
- Rashard Lewis along the baseline in some space, he drives hard to the rim, lefty layup, contested, miss, tap by Lewis with the right hand on the opposite side of the rim, miss.
- Next possession, Lewis is out on the left wing, he tries to put the ball on the deck against Young, Young strips him, gets the ball to Lou Williams, he has a one-on-one with Alston in the open court, he takes him straight to the rim, soft foul, three point play Williams! Weak-ass foul from Rafer and SVG lets him know it. Nope, he misses the FT.
- Courtney Lee takes a long three, from 3-4 feet behind the line, misses
- Andre Iguodala has the ball out on the right wing, he’s going one-on-one against Hedo, drives right, pull up J from 16 feet, hits it!
Timeout — 2:40 to play — 92-86 Philadelphia — 6-0 run for the Sixers.
- Hedo curls around a screen to the right elbow, makes the catch, takes a bounce, goes with a lefty layup, deflected/blocked by Dalembert, Howard follows the ball and dunks it home in motion.
Timeout
- Turnover Phily
- Then a foul right at the two minute mark on the other end of the floor
- Drive and kick by Rafer Alston to Lewis out on the left wing, he knocks down the three pointer.
One point lead with 1:40 to play
- Miller draws a foul on the dribble. Inbounds, Iggy picks up his dribble, hands it to Green, he creates one on one, drives hard from the top of the key to the left side of the lane, goes off the glass, hits it! Huge shot!
- Hedo Turkoglu knifes into the paint off the screen and roll, right hand side of the lane, right handed layup high off the glass like we’ve seen so many times before, misses it. Rebound Phily.
- Iggy is fouled on the other end — misses both FTs
42 seconds to play — Phily lead 94-91 — Timeout Orlando as they rebound Iggy’s miss
- Turkoglu gets some separation off the pick and roll, drives down the left wing, good recovery from Dalembert (defending big on pick and roll) to come from behind and reject the shot … Howard follows the miss, goes up strong and rebounds the ball. Fouled. He misses the first FT, gets the friendly bounce on the second one.
31 seconds — timeout again
- Phily run down the clock — 6 seconds difference — to Iggy, drive and kick to Miller, out on the left wing, he drives hard right to the FT line and takes a running right hander, miss, rebound Orlando. Great job by Lee defending Miller.
7.4 seconds — timeout — Orlando ball
- Turkoglu can’t get it in — no call, was that over 5 seconds? Must have been — Dwight Howard sets a screen for Lewis, Dalembert shows to deny the pass, Young goes with Lewis too, Howard left open, he heads right to the rim, Green cuts down into the paint, Hedo throws the pass, excellent foul from Green to foul Dwight and foul him hard enough to stop Dwight from getting off a shot.
- Howard hits both FTs. Clutch shooting from Howard.
- Tie game — 94-94
6.9 seconds — timeout Phily — seriously, how many timeouts do these two teams have? Whatever it is, it’s too many!
- Marshall checks into the game. Iggy, Young, Green and Miller are the others. Orlando have their starting lineup on the floor.
- Miller inbounds, can’t get it in, now along the sideline to Young in the left corner, he drives left along the baseline, skips right, loses the basketball, regains the ball, loses the defenders after losing the ball, and puts it up and in!
Orlando inbound quickly and get off a heave from midcourt, miss
Philadelphia wins!
Final Thoughts
Philadelphia aren’t an underdog anymore. They’ve played too well against Orlando to be considered that. They’re the slight favourite now.
Philadelphia leads 2-1 in the series. A win in their next game would give them a tremendous lead in the series.
Hedo Turkoglu
What the hell is happening with Turkoglu? Is he still injured? Is it Iggy’s defense?
I don’t think Orlando can win this series without Hedo playing well. He has to get it together.
Posted on April 24, 2009 by Dave