The Oregonian newspaper reported Friday that forward Hedo Turkoglu, who earlier in the day appeared headed to Portland, had broken off talks with the team. Turkoglu, 30, has spent the last five seasons with Orlando, but last week opted out of the final year of a contract that would have paid him $7.3 million. There were reports Friday that Turkoglu had agreed to a five-year, $50 million contract with the Trail Blazers.

Free agent Orlando Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu found a new home Friday by agreeing to a five-year, $50 million contract with the Portland Trailblazers. The 30-year-old, 6-foot-10 inch Turkoglu averaged 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 77 games last season while helping Orlando qualify for its second ever trip to the NBA Finals, where the Magic lost in five games to the Los Angeles Lakers. He became expendable June 25, when the Magic acquired forward Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets.

Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis scored 21 points apiece Tuesday, leading Orlando to a 108-104 win over the LA Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The Magic, who shot a finals record 75 percent in the first half and finished making 62.5 percent, also got 20 points from Rafer Alston and 18 from Hedo Turkoglu.

Dwight Howard's 24 points and nine rebounds Sunday led Orlando's 99-89 win over Cleveland, giving the Magic a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference final. Orlando, still smarting from a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by LeBron James Friday, bolted to a 16-6 lead when Rashard Lewis sank a jumper with 6:07 left in the first quarter, but saw its lead dwindle to 42-41 by halftime. Howard sank seven free throws in the fourth to secure the victory before fouling out.

LeBron James made a potential season-saving, 3-point shot at the buzzer Friday that gave Cleveland an amazing 96-95 playoff victory over Orlando. The Cavaliers managed to even the Eastern Conference finals at a game each, just as it appeared they would lose their second straight playoff game after winning their first eight. Cleveland opened a 23-point lead in the first half and seemingly was on its way to an easy victory. Orlando, however, cut its deficit to a dozen by intermission, dominated the second half and stunned the Cavaliers when Hedo Turkoglu made a leaning jumper from the free-throw line with exactly a second remaining to give the Magic a 95-93 lead. After the ensuing time out, James broke away from Turkoglu to get open space just beyond the 3-point line.