NBA FINALS : Magic Will Need to Pull NBA History Out of Hat : Game 3: Houston, led by Olajuwon and Drexler, takes 3-0 lead, which has never been surmounted in playoffs.

The Orlando Magic’s theory that things could not get any worse after the first two games of the NBA finals was shredded worse than their recent transition defense, which is saying something.

Sunday night, things got much worse.

This supposed dynasty in waiting got beat again by destiny in the making. This time, the Houston Rockets won, 106-103, before 16,611 at the Summit as Hakeem Olajuwon scored 31 points and Clyde Drexler added 25 points and 13 rebounds, numbers that in the end paled in comparison to 3-0.

That is the Rockets’ lead in the finals. This passes as insurmountable in NBA circles--no team in playoff history, not only in the championship round, has come back after losing the first three games. The Rockets will try to finish it Wednesday and become only the sixth team to sweep to the title.

Even they can’t believe it.

“No,” Olajuwon said. “I’m surprised myself. But we have to believe. This is beyond even explanation.”

Well, not totally.

The Rockets are intensely focused, a contrast that becomes even greater against the disappearance of Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson for Orlando. They shot a combined six for 25 in Game 3, and Anderson is shooting 37.8% (17 for 45) in the series and Scott 25.8% (eight for 31).

The Rockets continue to produce a third scorer to go with Olajuwon and Drexler. In Game 1, it was Kenny Smith, then Smith’s backup, Sam Cassell, in the next outing. Sunday, it was Robert Horry, who had 20 points along with nine rebounds and the biggest basket of the night, a three-point shot with 14.1 seconds remaining that provided a 104-100 cushion.

Then there’s the Rockets’ transition game, which the Magic has been able to slow but never stop. At least the reasons are getting less humiliating. In Orlando Arena the problem was lack of hustle, Coach Brian Hill said, but this time it was too many quick shots.

Never was that more evident than late in the first half, when the Rockets, down, 51-42, with 4:19 remaining, strung together a series of fast-break baskets off defensive rebounds for a 54-53 lead at intermission. Usually, Drexler’s foot was somewhere on the gas pedal, either by rebounding or leading the charge downcourt, or both.

“Clyde’s pushing the ball so fast, you’d think he was a rookie,” Magic guard Anfernee Hardaway said.

Said Hill: “He just has his mind made up that he’s not going to let his team lose.”

Further evidence of that came with the game on the line. Drexler scored five points during a 12-9 run that afforded the Rockets a 100-95 lead with 1:13 left, capped by a nice spin move while backing in Anderson that became a layup. Then he turned things over to Horry.

The Magic had closed to within 101-100 when the defensive star of Game 2 made his biggest impact. Olajuwon had already talked to Horry earlier in the game about passing up three-point shots, so there was no hesitation this time. The shot clock was into single digits when he launched from the left side with Horace Grant bearing down with an outstretched arm.

If it missed, Orlando would have been in position to go ahead on the ensuing possession. When it went through the net, all of Orlando’s positions were bad.

“It was disbelief, really,” Hardaway said. “I didn’t think he would take a three-pointer, being up by only one point. I thought he would go inside to Hakeem.”

The Magic called timeout. Hardaway then missed a three-point shot, Olajuwon got the rebound and passed to Drexler, who was fouled. He made one free throw with 5.9 seconds left for a five-point game.

Orlando’s last gasp was a successful three-point shot by Anderson on a night in which he went four for 14 overall and four for 12 from behind the line. That made it 105-103, but the Magic was forced to foul. Cassell went to the line with 2.2 seconds showing and made one, a cushion that held up when Hardaway’s off-balance three-point attempt missed.

The Magic was done, for the night. Wednesday, it could be for the season.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Series at a Glance

Game 1: Houston 120, Orlando 118 OT

Game 2: Houston 117, Orlando 106

Game 3: Houston 106, Orlando 103

Game 4: Wed. at Houston, 6:00 p.m.

*Game 5: Fri. at Houston, 6:00 p.m.

*Game 6: Sun. at Orlando, 4:30 p.m.

*Game 7: June 21 at Orlando, 6 p.m.

All times PDT

All games televised on Channel 4

* If necessary