The game ended with a floater from McGrady, assisted by Billups.
The final score was 131-124.
The East won by 7 points.
And McGrady dropped a game-high 37 points.
Barring any surprises, the All-Star Game MVP award would be his.
The stands erupted in thunderous applause.
MVP chants echoed throughout the arena.
This was, after all, the Magic's home court!
To outsiders, the Magic were the unluckiest team in the league. They perennially made it to the Finals, only to fail every single time.
But in the eyes of the local Orlando fans, they were the second-strongest team in the league. They had watched as their team—one that used to just hover on the edge of the playoffs, sometimes failing to even make it in—was completely transformed. Thanks to some 'divine' moves from management, they traded for Hill and McGrady. The team rose from the ashes, becoming a perennial Finals contender and one of the league's top powerhouses.
Last year, they had even won a historic championship.
