The 1994–95 NBA season was the Magic's 6th season in the National Basketball Association. After building through the draft in previous years, the Magic made themselves even stronger by signing free agentsHorace Grant and Brian Shaw. Grant gave the Magic one of the most dominant starting lineups in the NBA. Shaquille O'Neal continued to dominate the NBA with 29.3 points per game. The Magic easily won the Atlantic Division with a 57–25 record. They also finished with a 39–2 home record, tied for second best in NBA history. Second-year star Anfernee Hardaway was selected to play in the 1995 NBA All-Star Game along with O'Neal. In the first round of the playoffs, the Magic overwhelmed the Boston Celtics with a 124–77 victory in Game 1. The Magic would eliminate the Celtics at the Boston Garden to win the series 3–1. These matches would be the final 2 basketball games ever played at the Garden. In the second round, the Magic were matched up against the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls were on an emotional high as Michael Jordan had just returned from his baseball career to play basketball. Jordan was now wearing the number 45 for the Bulls. The Magic won the first game 94–91. Tensions rose when Nick Anderson indicated that Jordan was no longer the same player when Anderson was quoted by the media saying, "Number 23, he could just blow right by you! Number 45, he revs up, but doesn't really take off." The comment motivated Jordan to return to number 23 and the Bulls evened the series. In Game 5, the Magic won the game 103–95. The Magic would eliminate the Bulls in Game 6 as the Magic won 108–102 to advance to the Conference Finals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic would beat the Indiana Pacers in a tough 7-game series that saw the home team win every game. The Magic were off to their first ever NBA Finals. The Magic faced off against the 6th-seeded and defending NBA ChampionHouston Rockets. Shaq would be up against Hakeem Olajuwon in a battle of All-Star Centers. Game 1 was played in Orlando and the game was lost at the free throw line. Anderson missed four consecutive free throws with the Magic up by three at waning seconds of the game and the Rockets tied the game at the buzzer. The Rockets would then win Game 1 in overtime. The Magic would not recover from their Game 1 loss as the Rockets swept the series in 4 straight. For the season, the Magic had new blue pinstripe road uniforms, while the black pinstripe jerseys became their alternate. Both uniforms lasted until 1998. Orlando did not make another appearance in the NBA Finals until 2009.
Draft picks
Round
Pick
Player
Position
Nationality
College / Team
1
27
Brooks Thompson
PG
United States
Oklahoma State
2
31
Rodney Dent
C
United States
Kentucky
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Regular season
Playoffs
Playoffs
East First Round
Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics: Magic win series 3-1
Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando : Orlando 124, Boston 77
Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando : Boston 99, Orlando 92
Game 3 @ Boston Garden, Boston : Orlando 82, Boston 77
Game 4 @ Boston Garden, Boston : Orlando 95, Boston 92
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available
East Conference Semifinals
Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls: Magic win series 4-2
Game 1 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando : Orlando 94, Chicago 91
Game 2 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando : Chicago 104, Orlando 94
Game 3 @ United Center, Chicago : Orlando 110, Chicago 101
Game 4 @ United Center, Chicago : Chicago 106, Orlando 95
Game 5 @ Orlando Arena, Orlando : Orlando 103, Chicago 95
Game 6 @ United Center, Chicago : Orlando 108, Chicago 102
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available
East Conference Finals
Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers: Magic win series 4-3
