ORLANDO - A funny thing is happening to the NBA Finals puppet show. The Orlando Magic are pulling the strings. Late Tuesday, Commissioner David Stern reportedly brought his fist down so hard in his bubble bath that he knocked his LeBron and Kobe squeaker toys clear out of the water.

LeBron James walked from the court in Orlando like a LeBreaten man after the Magic outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-114 in overtime to take a commanding 3-1 lead in your garden-variety epic Eastern Conference final. When it was over, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy sent well wishes to an uncle who is recovering from triple-bypass surgery.

"I hope he's resting," Van Gundy said. "I certainly hope he didn't watch that game."

It was that kind of game in a series filled with them. And if James' final 43-foot 3-point try had swished at the OT horn, a real possibility as he rose over two defenders and smoothly let it go, they could have drawn a sheet over Orlando, team and town. Disney would have pulled out.

Instead, the Magic pulled within a win of the Finals with an amazing victory on the fabled parquet floor at tradition-rich Amway Arena, a throwback to gyms of old (all the luxury suites are at the top of the building).

The Cavaliers are one loss from being cadavaliers, but the spooky thing — besides Dwight Howard hitting seven of nine free throws — is that they played well and still lost. Some Cavs finally answered LeBron's "Help Wanted" ad — and they still lost. Yapping Cleveland guard Mo Williams guaranteed a Cavs win in Game 4 and the series — and they still lost.

The Magic had all kind of answers in all shapes and sizes. They're simply the better team right now. LeBron might be from Mars, but the team around him is so pedestrian that little old ladies help it across the street.

The Cavs' backs are against the wall — the Great Wall even. Cavs ownership actually just sold a 15 percent share of the team to Chinese investors — all in time to see the title favorite become roast duck, the 45-year dinner special in Cleveland when it comes to championship dreams.

LeBron went on scoring runs while being held to 44 points, but none of those runs compared to the 10 straight points Magic guard Rafer Alston scored for his team to start the second half. Alston hit six 3-pointers. It was Rafer madness, I tell you.

LeBron hit four 3s, but all the other Cavs made only two. The Magic made 17. LeBron hit big shots, but Magic forward Rashard Lewis, who won Game 1 with a big shot, came up larger, nailing a 25-foot 3-pointer from the left corner to put the Magic up by two with 4.1 seconds left in regulation.

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Of course, LeBron forced overtime by hitting two free throws with a half-second left. Had this arena ever been louder? I couldn't even watch as LeBron bounced the bouncy ball before each shot. He calmly got it done. He turned the ball over seven times in the fourth quarter and overtime — and he was still clutch.

Get this straight: If the Cavs fall in this series and anyone starts talking about how LeBron James can't get it done … Well, go ask Bill Russell to win it all surrounded by this Cavs crew. Or give them Bird, Magic and Jordan and see what they do.

So LeBron forced the overtime. Then Howard forced a 3-1 series lead by taking over overtime. He took over. He backed in and dunked for the Magic's first two baskets, then added a power lay-in. After another 3-pointer by Michael Pietrus (he had five), Howard tipped one in off a Hedo Turkoglu miss and later stuffed LeBron as he drove to the basket late.

Never mind that Howard earned another technical foul, which makes six for the playoffs. He's one away from having to sit out a game.

If he gets another one after that, they really throw the book at him. He'll have to serve time in the Rays' bullpen.

Slideshow   NBA playoffs Take a look at photos from the playoffs, including the Magic finishing off LeBron and the Cavs in Game 6. more photos

Meanwhile, the Cavs are a loss away from sitting until next season. They won 74 games on their merry way to this series, but everyone forgot that the Magic had won 67 — and have won 11 of their last 15 against Cleveland. The cold, clammy fact for all of Cleveland is that this series would be over today if its sworn King hadn't hit that impossible basket to win Game 2 as time ran out. Time is running out anyway.

NBA teams are 182-8 when taking 3-1 leads in playoff series. True, the Magic are part of the eight, having blown a 3-1 lead against Detroit in 2003. That seemed like a long time ago as Orlando players celebrated Tuesday.

The next win won't be easy. This series has already seen two one-point games and a two-point game, but the Cavs might have taken their best shot. LeBron is still there, and that always matters. No matter. This morning, Howard and the Magic wouldn't trade places with him for all the T's in China.

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