The Orlando Magic took another step toward overcoming an improbable 3-0 series deficit,beating the Boston Celtics 113-92 on Wednesday to make it 3-2 in the NBAs Eastern Conference finals. Orlandos Dwight Howard had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help keep the Magic alive heading into Game 6 in Boston on Friday.
I dont know if you can say you have momentum when youre down 3-2 going into their place, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. I still look at it like were climbing a huge mountain here. But we are playing better.
A series that looked like a sweep a few days ago now has the Celtics under pressure,and facing the possibility of being without Kendrick Perkins. The starting center picked up his seventh technical foul of the playoffs,incurring a mandatory suspension unless it is overturned.
A potential Game 7 would be in Orlando.
No NBA team has won a series after losing the first three games. The Magic,seemingly lifeless after a blowout defeat in Game 3,suddenly have hope to be the first. They broke out of their series-long shooting slump,making 13-of-25 3-pointers.
They are a great team when they get a lead,because then those 3s are easy, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. We never applied any real pressure.
Jameer Nelson scored 24 points,and J.J. Redick had 14 to help the Magic to a frenetic pace that the Celtics couldnt sustain. Howard added five blocks as Orlando built an early 14-point lead that was never seriously challenged.
Rasheed Wallace had 21 points,and Ray Allen scored 19 for Boston,who lost Glen Davis to concussion early after an inadvertent elbow from Howard.
Davis tried to get up as play continued on the other end,wobbling his way to midcourt,almost falling flat as referee Joey Crawford kept him from tumbling to the court. Rivers said Davis blacked out on the court,and the training staff will examine the forward Thursday.


