ORLANDO -- Rafer Alston doesn't shoot the ball well every night.But he sure knows how to pick his spots.
Alston became one of the unlikely heroes Tuesday night when the Magic beat the Cavs, 116-114, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final, delivering a career playoff high 26 points.
The Cavs made the same mistake that Philadelphia made in the first round and Boston made in the second round, leaving Alston open to help defensively on the Magic stars. And as usual, Alston made them pay, bringing back memories of his playground days when he become the legendary "Skip-to-my-Lou.''
He made 10 of 17 shots and six of 12 from 3-point range, scoring 20 of his points in the second half after playing only nine minutes because in the first half because of early foul trouble.
He scored the Magic's first 10 points in the second half, keeping them close when the Cavs threatened to run away.
"It fueled us when I came out strong after halftime because we were able to thrive off that,'' he said. "I'm probably not the most consistent one we have making threes, but tonight was my night.''
Alston had similar games against Philadelphia and Boston. In Game 6 of the first round, when the Magic closed out the Sixers, Alston hit 8 of 16 shots for 21 points. In Game 7 against Boston, he hit three of seven 3-pointers for 15 points. In the Magic's Game 3 victory over Cleveland on Sunday, he hit six of 13 shots for 18 points.
"It's been a challenge for me, all throughout the playoffs,'' he said. "Philadelphia dared me to shoot it, and I burned them. Boston dared me to shoot it, and I burned them, too, at their place. This is a make-and-miss league. Right now I'm able to knock them down.''
Alston was the Magic's mid-season pickup from Houston after they lost Jameer Nelson for the season because of his shoulder injury. At times, he has struggled with his shot. He is shooting 40 percent from the field. During the regular season, he made only 38 percent of his shots.
"You can almost taste it, this opportunity to get to the Finals. We understand we have to win one more, and it's not going to be easy,'' he said. "We're enjoying this ride, but we also understand we've got some work to do yet.''
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Who is covering Alston, o yeah lebron the runner up for defensive player of the year. What a friggin joke, he gets a few blocked shots and steals that should be fouls, and his guy which he never really guards smokes ya team, good job there king of the JV league.
I'm surprised the NBA hasn't found an excuse to kick any Magic player that heats up out of the Series all together. The Refs just want 1 thing. Lebron in the Finals and they are cheating in every game to get that result.
Imagine how one sided this series would have been if they had called some clean games.