Magic take opener from Boston 95-90

By JIMMY GOLEN, AP Sports Writer May 4, 11:56 pm EDT

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BOSTON (AP)—The Orlando Magic avoided an epic collapse when the clock ran out on the Boston Celtics’ comeback bid.

There would be no overtime this time.

Just another hole the defending NBA champions will try to escape.

Dwight Howard returned from his one-game suspension to get 16 points and 22 rebounds Monday night and Orlando, which led by as many as 28 points in the second half, held off the late-charging Celtics 95-90 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“The last 16 minutes was a debacle,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We were sort of trying to run out the clock, and you can’t do that in games like this. Especially in the playoffs, teams are going to keep fighting and keep coming back.

“(But) how about the fact that we were up 28? You play these games to win, and that’s it. We won. Right now, the series is 1-0.”

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Boston.

Orlando led 65-37 early in the third quarter, but Boston trailed by four points when Ray Allen’s 3-pointer rimmed out with 43 seconds left. J.J. Redick made two free throws with 14 seconds left before Paul Pierce’s high 3-pointer made it a three-point game with 6.6 seconds to play.

But Redick made two more free throws to ice it.

“We got complacent as a team, stopped doing what we did to get the lead and against a good Celtics team you can’t do that,” Howard said. “You don’t want to focus on them coming back. We still won the game and we saw what we have to do to win the series.”

Pierce scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half and Rajon Rondo had 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Pierce said the Celtics never feel like they’re out of a game, and there’s a good reason why: They came back from 21 points down to beat New Jersey in the 2002 conference finals, and they rallied from a 24-deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of last season’s NBA finals.

“We can’t wait until we’re down 25, 26 points until we wake up,” said Pierce, who is the only remaining Celtic to play in both those games. “There’s no excuses for us not to be ready.”

Kendrick Perkins had 16 rebounds for Boston, but Rondo and Allen both went 2 of 12 from the field. The Magic had a cold spell of their own in the fourth quarter, going just 5 of 20 from the field to lose most of a once-dominating lead that had the Boston fans booing their team off the court at halftime.

“If we had played the rest of the game like the second half … ,” said Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who scored 12 points before fouling out. “It’s hard to play from behind. That’s what we did and we lost.”

Orlando finished off Philadelphia in six games on Thursday night, and Howard has been resting up even longer: He was suspended for the series finale for elbowing Sixers center Samuel Dalembert.

“It felt like I was out 10 games,” Howard said. “I was a little rusty. We’ll be ready for Game 2.”

Boston had just one day off since eliminating the Chicago Bulls in a best-of-seven series—7 3/4 , actually—one many consider the best first-round playoff series in NBA history. The teams played a record four overtime games and seven overtimes periods in all—nearly three extra quarters of basketball.

Boston could have used a couple extra minutes this time.

The Magic scored 26 of the final 32 points in the first half and then scored 11 of the first 12 in the third quarter to open a 65-37 lead.

The Celtics used a 15-4 run to get the lead under 20 points and came as close as 74-60 near the end of the third quarter. Mickael Pietrus hit a 3-pointer to make it 81-64, then Boston scored seven straight points, getting a jumper from Pierce, a 3-pointer off a jump ball from Eddie House and then Rondo’s steal and dunk to make it a 10-point game.

Notes

The teams split the season series 2-2, but Orlando won both times that Kevin Garnett was hurt. Howard averaged 16.8 points and 15.5 rebounds in the four games. … Magic G Courtney Lee is expected to miss at least the first two games of the series while recovering from surgery to repair a fractured sinus. … The Celtics did not go to the free throw line in the first half, but Rondo shot 12 free throws in the third quarter.

Updated May 4, 11:56 pm EDT
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Boston at Miami

Sun Nov 29, 2009, 6:00 pm EST

Orlando at Milwaukee

Sat Nov 28, 2009, 9:00 pm EST

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125 Comments

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  1. French
    125. Posted by French Mon May 18 1:13am EDT

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    i know i cant say its luck, but bump that. IT WAS ALL LUCK!!!!!!!!!
  2. kenneth d
    124. Posted by kenneth d Wed May 6 9:52am EDT

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    Thats the key..... NO KG. Orlando's only chance in this series was to have the Celts without KG. How sad is that? KG has to be out for Orlando to have a chance. No team in the NBA can do what the Celtics are doing now. Sit LeBron, sit Kobe and see where those teams will be. Cavs and Lakers are 1 man teams. Celtics won't win championship this year but ONLY because of injuries.
  3. John
    123. Posted by John Tue May 5 5:02pm EDT

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    the celtics are done for the year sorry
  4. Alex D
    122. Posted by Alex D Tue May 5 4:48pm EDT

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    Stephon Marbury bangwagon anyone?
  5. David M
    121. Posted by David M Tue May 5 4:18pm EDT

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    DWB: We watch the games and listen to the commentary. The Celtics are quite capable of beating themselves. I just wonder why they need an opponent or fans to get that lame-a** job done.
    I can't wait to see the Celtic's best and no excuses.
  6. AmdmonkeyA
    120. Posted by AmdmonkeyA Tue May 5 4:15pm EDT

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    It is over Boston Celtic fans.

    How in hell this team ever won any championship last year is beyond reason but without your main man, your team sucks.

    if your man had not cheated and gotten away with it, the Celtics would have lost to the Bulls but now they are toast.

    Celtics suck.
  7. D.W.B.
    119. Posted by D.W.B. Tue May 5 3:46pm EDT

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    does anyone hating on the Celtics even watch the games or just watch sports center ? the celtics beat themselves, it was not the mgjic beating them .try watching if your gonna talk smack .last i checked TNT is free
  8. Derek M
    118. Posted by Derek M Tue May 5 3:40pm EDT

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    This series is far from over lol, some of the people on here sayin celtics dont even have a chance, u guys know nothing about basketball. After first game in bulls series, everyone on this page said" celtics are done i mean they lost a game". Well idiots a series is 7 games. I actually think the celtics will take it in 6.
  9. <i>tyler.scott57</i>
    117. Posted by tyler.scott57 Tue May 5 3:25pm EDT

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    when the celtics win I will have a party. p.s all other teams suck
  10. <i>p.young64</i>
    116. Posted by p.young64 Tue May 5 3:01pm EDT

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    It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win. Go Magic, 1 down 3 to go. The celtics looked worn-out in the first half and the magic couldn't get thier act together in the second half which made it a close game at the end. I think the magic will take the series in 6 games. And for all you that want to give the championship to the Cavs, the last time the magic played the Cavs they beat the stuffing out of them by 40 points, take that to the bank.
  11. David M
    115. Posted by David M Tue May 5 3:01pm EDT

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    Boston has so many excuses to not win that I'm sure they will take one of them. I wonder how Danny Ainge is going to re-tool the team once they get ELIMINATED. Who on this team is going to be traded?
  12. <i>dpmplew1</i>
    114. Posted by dpmplew1 Tue May 5 2:55pm EDT

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    great job my idol jj redick beasted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  13. Mister M
    113. Posted by Mister M Tue May 5 2:49pm EDT

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    funny how we [THE Celtics] can come all the way back from a huge deficit to nearly WIN the first game of the SERIES [underline series]. and we did all this WITHOUT k.g. & leon.
    REMINDER to all fairydust magic fans: we lost game one of the ATL series, too.
    and
    Boston Celtics own THE MOST N B A Championships. regardless.
    and
    we ARE the reigning champs.
    period.
  14. luvSportz
    112. Posted by luvSportz Tue May 5 2:37pm EDT

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    &&&&& 1 more thing Never underestimate the heart of a champion
  15. Bucs_fan_since_78
    111. Posted by Bucs_fan_since_78 Tue May 5 2:37pm EDT

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    If BS posts by fans counted as baskets, the Celtics would win in five.

    As it is theough baskets not posts count, and the Magic will prevail.

    I said before the series that if we went up to Boston and took them the first game in their house, it would mean a lot in this series. What's done is done. Boston is in a hole.
  16. luvSportz
    110. Posted by luvSportz Tue May 5 2:37pm EDT

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    oh yeah and I cant believe they lost at home....and can somebody tell me what te hell is wrong with Rajon!! i think we should start Stephon for a while he exploeded in the 1st half ...Doc your one of my fav. 5 coaches soooooo watcha gonna do?
  17. luvSportz
    109. Posted by luvSportz Tue May 5 2:34pm EDT

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    So the Celtics Lost but they almost came back but paul missed the three..Proud of of D'wight 22 rebounds..............Boston and Magic are kinda missed matched .........but Congrats to Lebron Even tho i wanted D. WaD3 to get it but Lebron worked hard 2 ............... This season wasnt what i expected but the Playoffs are okay.......we miss u KG and Leon Powe.Badly
  18. Nick W
    108. Posted by Nick W Tue May 5 1:44pm EDT

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    I know the boston celtics will comback when kevin gets better. The celtics will never give up. They will win in orlando to get this game back. This series will go to 7 games. Boston will advance.
  19. <i>beancounter477</i>
    107. Posted by beancounter477 Tue May 5 1:43pm EDT

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    sooooooooo should we just cancel the rest of the playoffs and just hand Lebron the Championship trophy now or? I luv how every 1 is counting the C's out, probably the same people who said the bulls would win after the C's lost game 1 in that series...
    thats what makes us fans in boston different, we never give up on our teams no matter what the situation.
  20. Bernie Carbo
    106. Posted by Bernie Carbo Tue May 5 1:27pm EDT

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    Its only one game. I believe you have to win 4 to advance. The celtics obviously were flat after grueling through the last series but the Magic did blow a monster lead. The Magic will fade and Boston will take on the Cavs. Its in the cards. But right after last nights game I @#$% out a foot long king snake with a bloody red trailer on the end. After splash down I topped it off with a pint of brown sea foam. It was sweet!
  21. blackvenom
    105. Posted by blackvenom Tue May 5 12:48pm EDT

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    I think magic has the edge in this round...4-2 in favor of orlando...although im a celtics fan but without kevin theres no way u can stop the superman...ciao!
  22. pats 4 life
    104. Posted by pats 4 life Tue May 5 12:34pm EDT

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    ray allen needs to step up, the c's cant win with him shooting 2-12 from the field, and rondo needs to do what he did in the 2nd half and drive to the basket, when he drives to the basket it leaves our shooters open b/c he draws the double, the need to cut it out with getting pp the ball at half court, let rondo set up the offense then dish to pp or ray ray when he drives
  23. TR
    103. Posted by TR Tue May 5 12:28pm EDT

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    The Houston Rockets may be the only team left that can match up with the magic...BUT , the Magic
    has the answer two that if they do what I said last month, That is ti spread out their offense on the
    floor and wait for good open shots, but dont wait too long... because the Magic has Superman under
    the goal for rebounds... amd the magics should drive hard to the basket at an angle the way jordan
    used to .. and they cant get charged with fouling... if they do this then no team can beat them.
  24. Riggsby
    102. Posted by Riggsby Tue May 5 12:25pm EDT

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    Well I don't think the Celtics are done, but after seeing the Bulls series and this game, it clearly proves what I've said all along about KG being the Celtics MVP, and not the self proclaimed best player in the NBA Paul Pierce. Celtics are not a Championship calibur team without KG
  25. hq2315elc
    101. Posted by hq2315elc Tue May 5 12:21pm EDT

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    Hahaha!!! celtics thats what you get. and you paul pierce..ugh!!! he is the biggest cry baby their is. he always wants a foul everytime he shoots the ball or drives to the rim. haha!!

    magic in 6!!!
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Orlando
D. Howard Dwight Howard
6-12,  16 Pts
22 Rebs, 3 Assists
 Boston
P. Pierce Paul Pierce
7-18,  23 Pts
5 Rebs, 2 Assists

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