Orlando Magic

It would have appeared to be pretty much of a no-brainer for Rony Seikaly. A deal had been made to send him to the Utah Jazz, a team that last year extended the Chicago Bulls to six games in the NBA Finals. Playing alongside Karl Malone and John Stockton, Seikaly -- who was not going to the playoffs with the Orlando Magic -- was as close to a title as he would ever realize.But the deal fell apart Wednesday. The Jazz said that Seikaly and his agent failed to communicate with the team. Seikaly -- perhaps in an attempt at spin control -- said on Friday that Utah was scared off by the deal because of a stress fracture in his foot that could keep him out for four weeks.

ORLANDO, Fla. - - When the last horn finally sounded Saturday night, the Orlando Magic and their fans partied like it was 1995. The sellout crowd inside Amway Arena roared. White, blue and silver confetti fell from the ceiling. The Magic had closed out the Eastern Conference finals in six games and ended Madison Avenue's dreams of a Kobe Bryant-LeBron James championship matchup. Kobe versus Dwight will have to do. With Dwight Howard leading the way with 40 points and 14 rebounds, the Magic defeated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, 103-90, to earn their first trip to the NBA Finals in 14 years.

Opponent: Orlando Magic Site: MCI Center, Washington Time: 7 TV/Radio: Comcast SportsNet/WTEM (980 AM)

CLEVELAND - - The Cleveland Cavaliers had the best record in the NBA this season. They also swept through the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs. So did anyone really expect them to fold like origami in Thursday's must-win game against the Orlando Magic? Of course not. The Cavaliers, now trailing three games to two after a 112-102 victory over the Magic, must travel to Orlando for another must-win game Saturday. If they win that, it's back to Cleveland for Game 7 on Monday. If they complete this best-of-seven hat trick after trailing three games to one, they will be only the ninth team of out of 188 to accomplish this feat since the mid-1940s.

King's response 8:30 p.m. [TNT] Now that the Orlando Magic has humbled LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, what will King James' response be in Game 2? Apparently 49 points weren't enough in Game 1.

BaseballPittsburgh Pirates -- Signed CF Andy Van Slyke to a three-year contract extension worth $12.65 million.BasketballOrlando Magic -- Signed G Scott Skiles to a multiyear contract.CollegesIllinois -- Named Cleve Bryant offensive coordinator.Indiana -- Named Clarence M. Doninger director of athletics.North Texas -- Extended the contract of men's basketball coach Jimmy Gales through the 1992-93 season.

BaseballSt. Louis Cardinals -- Signed Scott Terry (4-4, 1 save, 2.80 ERA) to a 1-year contract.BasketballOrlando Magic -- Placed G-F Otis Smith on the injured list. Signed G Chris Corchiani.CollegesTC Holy Cross -- Named Peter Vaas football coach.Southwest Texas State -- Named Richard Hannan AD.FootballCincinnati Bengals -- Named Richard Williamson receivers coach.

VS. ORLANDO MAGIC:* WHEN: Tonight, 7:30.* WHERE: Orlando Arena.* RADIO/TV: WTOP-AM 1500; Ch. 20.VS. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES:* WHEN: Sunday, 1 p.m.* WHERE: Capital Centre.* RADIO: WTOP-AM 1500.* OUTLOOK: A season that began without much hope and picked up steam in the middle comes to a crashing halt for the Bullets (30-50) as they close this third straight playoff-less season against two rising expansion teams.

Opponent: Orlando MagicSite: Orlando (Fla.) ArenaTime: 7:30TV/Radio: Channel 50/WTEM (570 AM), WWLG (1360 AM)Outlook: Each team is 1-1. The Magic is coming off Saturday's 124-91 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The next two months will be transitional for the Magic, which won't have C Shaquille O'Neal (broken right thumb) back until the end of December. That leaves the leadership of the team to G Anfernee Hardaway (21.0 ppg). Washington was 2-3 against the Magic last season, losing both games in Orlando.

Magic@Pistons 7 p.m. [TNT] Mr. Flip is thinking of a song. Orlando Magic, make it happen ... Hey, the Orioles aren't using it anymore. Baseball Orioles@Athletics 10 p.m. [MASN] It's perfectly understandable if you prefer to watch The Bachelor: The Women Tell All at the same time on ABC (chs. 2, 7), because you don't get the same thing in an Orioles game until "Wired Wednesday."

ORLANDO, Fla. - -The Orlando Magic is one win away from reaching the NBA Finals, and the Cleveland Cavaliers and their superstar, LeBron James, are one loss from having their dream season end in nightmarish fashion. Dwight Howard scored 27 points - including 10 in the game's extra period - and Rafer Alston added a career playoff-high 26 points Tuesday night as the Magic beat the Cavaliers, 116-114, in overtime to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. "This thing is a long, long, long way from over," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said.

King's response 8:30 p.m. [TNT] Now that the Orlando Magic has humbled LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, what will King James' response be in Game 2? Apparently 49 points weren't enough in Game 1.

Magic@Pistons 7 p.m. [TNT] Mr. Flip is thinking of a song. Orlando Magic, make it happen ... Hey, the Orioles aren't using it anymore. Baseball Orioles@Athletics 10 p.m. [MASN] It's perfectly understandable if you prefer to watch The Bachelor: The Women Tell All at the same time on ABC (chs. 2, 7), because you don't get the same thing in an Orioles game until "Wired Wednesday."

It's not difficult to spot Stan Van Gundy at an NBA arena before games. Just look for the shortest coach with the biggest mustache and smile. When you're guiding one of the hottest teams, one of the brightest stars and one of the best comeback stories in the NBA this season, it can be tough to keep a straight face. Van Gundy is only one month into the regular season with his new team, but he already has the Orlando Magic in position to make franchise history. Orlando won 14 of its first 18 games and entered last night flirt ing with the franchise's best start since 1993-94.

In the days preceding the 1985 NBA draft lottery, commissioner David Stern practiced drawing oversized envelopes from a clear, spherical drum. Staff members carted the drum into his office, where Stern remembered "rehearsing to a fault," hoping all would go smoothly for the live lottery broadcast from the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. For the young commissioner with 16 months on the job, the actual event - 6 minutes, 31 seconds - passed in a blur, but the final moments and ultimate outcome remain unforgettable.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Orlando Magic point guard Steve Francis was suspended indefinitely by the NBA yesterday for allegedly kicking a league courtside photographer Friday night in Seattle. The Orlando Sentinel has learned that the length of the suspension will be determined after the NBA reviews a videotape today or tomorrow of the incident, which was captured by another television crew. Francis (Maryland) was suspended without pay for yesterday's game in Portland against the Trail Blazers.

WASHINGTON -- Steve Francis recently built a house in Houston and is searching for a new residence in Orlando. But he calls Takoma Park his home, and says his heart belongs in nearby Washington. The three-time NBA All-Star point guard, recently traded from the Houston Rockets to the Orlando Magic, was back in downtown Washington yesterday, running his annual summer basketball clinic. Francis, dressed in new Magic gear, taught fundamentals to 100 inner-city youngsters. He gave them lessons on dribbling, free throws and jump shots.

There's no truth to the rumor that Steve Francis was seen yesterday skipping through the Magic Kingdom with a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, but the rumor that he is going to Orlando for Tracy McGrady is finally true. Francis, a three-time All-Star point guard, apparently dropped his objections to being dealt to the Orlando Magic yesterday, clearing the way for a blockbuster deal that will ship four-time All-Star guard McGrady, the reigning two-time NBA scoring champion, to the Houston Rockets.