The Orlando Magic will be in Cleveland for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday after a 101-82 Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday night. With it Orlando will bring a significant amount of momentum, and not just because it scored an upset of the defending champs on the road to make its first conference finals since 1995.

The Magic gave the Cavs their worst loss of the season, by 29 points, on April 3 to win the season series, 2-1. There were circumstances surrounding that loss: The Cavs were terrible and on short rest after a late flight on a back-to-back from Washington, while the Magic was rested and played great, shooting better than 50 percent.

That loss served a purpose for the Cavs, coming off a 13-game winning streak. It was a shocker and showed they could not let their guard down just because they had been playing well. They are in about the same position now; they have an eight-game winning streak in the playoffs, a franchise record, and three weeks of feeling unbeatable.

After that experience against the Magic the previous time, when the Cavs fell behind by 41 points in one of the worst losses of LeBron James' career, the team won't have to be concerned with overconfidence.

"That loss hurt us," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "Hopefully it bothered us so we won't let it happen again."

The issue in that game, as has been the case with many of the Magic's wins over the Cavs in the past few seasons, was letting Orlando's inside-out attack bother the Cavs' defense.

The Magic made 13-of-27 3-pointers in that game and shot 40 percent on 3-pointers against the Cavs in the three regular-season meetings.

During the regular season the Cavs held the rest of their opponents to 32 percent 3-point shooting, which ranked as one of the best percentages in the league.

"They are a pick-your-poison team," James said. "You have to deal with Dwight [Howard], but they have surrounded him with great shooters."

The Cavs held Howard in check somewhat during the regular season, giving up 18.3 points per game to him, which is two points less than his season average. But supporting shooters Rafer Alston, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkolgu all averaged more than 15 points a game against the Cavs.

During the series with the Celtics, Howard chastised his coach, Stan Van Gundy, for not getting him more touches on offense. Adjustments were made and the Magic rallied to become the first team in 33 tries to beat the Celtics when trailing, 3-2, in a series. So Howard will be coming to Cleveland with personal confidence as well.

"Dwight presents a big problem; it will be a physical series," Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said. "Overall we did a good job with him during the regular season, but what kills us is when he kicks out to the 3-point shooters. It will have to be a team effort. One guy can't stop him."

TNT visiting: As part of their coverage of the Eastern Conference finals, TNT will bring its popular "Inside the NBA" show to The Q to do live shows before, at halftime and after all the series games. That means host Ernie Johnson and analysts Kenny Smith, Chris Webber and Charles Barkley will be on hand. Marv Albert and Doug Collins will call the games.

The most recent time Barkley did live shows from Cleveland was in 2007 and he was booed by fans who were upset by disparaging remarks he made about the city. Chances are he could get it again after his remarks in March when he said, "There is no reason to live in Cleveland, that's why the call it the mistake by the lake," among other things.

Another trick shot: With their seventh consecutive day off, the Cavs practiced at The Q on Sunday instead of at the Cleveland Clinic Courts, just to remember what it was like to play in the building. As he was leaving the floor with cameras rolling, James made yet another one of his famous trick shots. Standing off the court and halfway to the tunnel behind the Cavs' bench, James threw in about a 25-foot shot over the shot clock and corner of the backboard before running off to the locker room.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwindhorst@plaind.com, 216-999-5166

Box

Magic, Lakers win

The Orlando Magic dethroned the defending champion Celtics with a 101-82 victory, earning a berth in the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers . Earlier, the Los Angeles Lakers won their Game 7 against the Houston Rockets, 89-70. C10

cleveland.com/cavs

Eastern Conference finals schedule

Cavaliers vs. Magic Best of seven All games 8:30 p.m., TNT

Wednesday: at The Q

Friday: at The Q

Sunday, May 24: at Orlando

Tuesday, May 26: at Orlando

Thursday, May 28: at The Q*

Saturday, May 30: at Orlando*

Monday, June 1: at The Q*

*if necessary