Magic-Celtics Preview

By TAYLOR BECHTOLD
Posted Feb 01 2013 5:32PM

Following their longest losing streak in six seasons, the Boston Celtics are unbeaten since their star point guard went down.

The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, can't seem to stop their losing ways. Now they could be without two key starters.

The Celtics will try to get back to the .500 mark and win their third straight without Rajon Rondo on Friday night when they host the reeling Orlando Magic.

With Rondo sidelined with what the team believed was a hyperextended right knee, Boston snapped a six-game losing streak with a 100-98 double-overtime victory over Miami on Sunday.

The Celtics (22-23), however, learned Rondo had a torn ACL that will keep him out the rest of the season before winning their second in a row, 99-81, over Sacramento on Wednesday.

To make matters worse, Boston learned Friday that it would be without another member of its rotation for the season. Jared Sullinger, averaging 7.7 points and 7.1 rebounds since Christmas, had lumbar disc surgery and won't be ready until training camp.

That's just another blow to a team that figures to have its hands full holding its three-game lead over Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"We have to play overall, just simple, good basketball," coach Doc Rivers said. "Pass the ball. Move the ball."

Without Rondo, Rivers has moved Courtney Lee, normally a shooting guard, into the starting lineup the past two games. Lee has totaled 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting with five assists in those starts.

Four players, however, had at least three assists against the Kings as the Celtics totaled 22, giving them 45 in two games - just shy of their 23.0 season average.

The Celtics' bench has also stepped up, outscoring opponents' reserves 89-54 the past two contests. Substitutes Brandon Bass, Jeff Green and Jason Terry combined for 36 of the group's 50 points on Wednesday.

"It has to come from a number of people," said forward Paul Pierce, who led six players in double figures with 16 points. "A lot of people have opportunities to step up. The way we move the ball, the way we spread the court, that's the way we need to play."

The Celtics should able to find some open looks against the struggling Magic (14-31), who allowed one of the NBA's highest assist averages (25.9) in January. They have lost 18 of 20 since Dec. 19 and will try to avoid their eighth straight loss on Friday.

Making matters worse, former Celtic Glen Davis, who has averaged 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, broke his left foot in a 113-97 loss at New York on Wednesday.

According to the team's official website, the forward could be lost for the remainder of the season. The Magic lost 10 of 11 after Davis went down with a shoulder injury in December.

"We have played without him before and we just have to continue to roll with the punches, and guys are going to have to step up," guard JJ Redick said.

After combining for 14 points on 5-of-25 shooting in a 97-77 loss at Brooklyn on Monday, the backcourt of Redick and Jameer Nelson teamed up for 50 while hitting 17-of-31 from the field against the Knicks.

The Magic, though, could also be without leading scorer Arron Afflalo, who is day-to-day after missing the last two contests with a strained left calf.

Orlando has especially struggled on the road lately, scoring just 88.8 points per game while losing by an average of 20.0 points in their last four away from home.

It doesn't figure to get easier against a Boston team that has limited opponents to 84.0 points per game in its last two.

The Celtics have won six straight in the series, including a 116-110 victory in Orlando on Nov. 25 behind 47 points from Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Pierce, Garnett lead Celtics over Magic 97-84

By DOUG ALDEN
Posted Feb 01 2013 11:46PM

BOSTON (AP) Lose another key player, win once again.

It's not a trend the Boston Celtics want to continue much longer.

The Celtics responded to yet another blow to their lineup with a 97-84 victory Friday night over the reeling Orlando Magic, getting double-doubles from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in winning their third straight.

Boston lost All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo at the beginning of the week to a torn knee ligament and learned Friday that promising rookie Jared Sullinger is also out for the season following back surgery.

"With the injuries, a number of guys are stepping up and that's what we are going to need," said Pierce, who had 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists despite sitting out the fourth quarter.

Garnett finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds, Jeff Green scored 17 and Courtney Lee had 14 points and five assists for the Celtics.

"The production is coming from everybody," said Lee, who inherited Rondo's job at point guard. "Rondo, he's our playmaker. He's racked up a lot of assists with his playmaking ability. And now we just have to move the ball and make sure we are in the right spots to execute the offense."

The Celtics had assists on 30 of their 42 field goals while shooting exactly 50 percent. Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa scored 12 each for the Celtics, who had six players in double figures.

"We have to be a team by committee," coach Doc Rivers said. "I'm asking guys to play different spots. It does create confusion on the other end."

It helped that the Celtics were facing Orlando, which last won on Jan. 16 and has been dealing with injury problems that rival those of the Celtics. The Magic were without their top two scorers in Aaron Afflalo (calf) and Glen Davis (broken left foot), then lost point guard Jameer Nelson to a bruised left forearm.

"It's part of basketball and we'll continue to deal with it," coach Jacque Vaughn said. "It means other guys have to fill in and fill roles and we'll keep at it."

Nelson, who averages 7.4 assists and is third on the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game, did not play in the second half.

"I took an elbow to the forearm, so we'll see how I feel tomorrow," he said.

J.J. Redick had 15 points and five assists and Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Magic, who finished with 95 shots. Only 36 of them went in and hardly any midway through the second half.

"We got some good looks. The ball just didn't go in," Vaughn said.

The depleted Magic still managed to push the Celtics through much of the game, taking advantage of 15 turnovers and some shaky free throw shooting as Boston went 9 for 14 from the foul line.

Orlando had been chipping away at the lead in the third quarter, pulling to 57-54 on E'Twaun Moore's three-point play with 5:04 left in the period. Boston slowly rebuilt the lead with a few short runs, then broke open the game in the fourth when the weary Magic wilted defensively.

"They made shots, went on a little run and we couldn't answer back," Vaughn said.

Pierce scored the last four points of the third quarter, putting the Celtics up 72-59 and starting a 10-0 run for Boston. The Celtics opened the fourth quarter 7 for 9, including a series of dunks by Lee and Green during an 8-2 spurt that extended the lead to 86-63.

Andrew Nicholson had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Moore also scored 14 for the Magic.

NOTES: Boston has won seven straight regular-season games against the Magic. ... Boston had 30 assists. ... The Magic were 1 for 13 on 3-pointers in the first half. ... Orlando has not won since beating Indiana on Jan. 16.

Notebook: Celtics 97, Magic 84

Brian Robb, For NBA.com
Posted Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:52 PM - Updated Fri Feb 01, 2013 11:52 PM

THE FACTS: Paul Pierce nearly finished with second straight triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists), helping the Boston Celtics pull away in the second half from the Orlando Magic for a comfortable 97-84 win Friday night. It was the third straight victory for the Celtics (23-23), all coming without Rajon Rondo who will miss the season with a torn ACL. Stifling defense and balanced scoring was the formula again for Boston's success against the Magic (14-32), as Jeff Green led all scorers with 17 points off the bench. Six Celtics players finished in double figures overall. J.J. Redick had a team-high 15 points for Orlando. The shorthanded Magic have now dropped eight consecutive games.

QUOTABLE: "I'm capable of doing a little bit of everything. Just trying to give the game what it needs. So, regardless, if it's playing Rondo's role, [Jared Sullinger] role as a rebounder, I'm going to try to fill the needs of what this ball club needs."

-- Paul Pierce

THE STAT: The Celtics continue to play unselfish offensive basketball without the services of their All-Star point guard. Boston's 30 assists on the night was their third highest total in a game this season.

TURNING POINT: The Magic gave the Celtics a scare in the third quarter, closing a 11-point halftime gap to three points, before Boston's second unit regained control with a 9-2 run to push the deficit back into double digits. The Magic failed to seriously threaten Boston's lead in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE II: ""I thought they responded the way they should. They know someone -- you know, guys are out and it's not like it's a maybe, it's a sure thing -- and guys just understand other guys are going to get a shot."

-- Celtics coach Doc Rivers on the team's play without Rondo and Sullinger

HOT: Kevin Garnett -- The 18-year veteran continues to defy his advanced age on both sides of the floor. Garnett finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in just 22 minutes of action. It was his third double-double in the team's past four games.

NOT: J.J. Redick -- Boston blitzed multiple defenders at Orlando's sharp shooting guard all night, and it proved to be effective. Redick shot just 33 percent of the field on 5-for-15 shooting, and turned the ball over three times in 33 minutes.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Pierce -- Boston's captain has stepped up all facets of his game with the Celtics playing shorthanded in the last three contests. Since Rondo's ACL injury, Pierce has posted 15.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and seven assists per game.

ROOKIE WATCH: Andrew Nicholson -- The former St. Bonaventure star played a career high 32 minutes in the 10th start of his NBA career. The power forward posted the first double-double of his career as well, finishing with 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

NOTABLE: Jameer Nelson left the game with a left forearm contusion in the second quarter. He did not return. ... The Celtics announced before the game that Sullinger underwent successful lumbar disc surgery today at the New England Baptist Hospital. He is expected to be ready to return for training camp next season. ... Fab Melo made his NBA debut over the game's final two minutes for the Celtics. The center was scoreless, but managed to force his first career steal. ... Arron Afflalo missed his third straight game for Orlando with a calf injury. ...The Celtics have won seven consecutive regular season games against the Magic.

UP NEXT: For Orlando, Saturday @ Milwaukee, Monday @ Philadelphia, Wednesday vs. LA Clippers. For Boston, Sunday vs. LA Clippers, Wednesday @ Toronto, Thursday vs. LA Lakers.

• Magic: Afflalo, Harrington
• Celtics: Sullinger

• Magic: --
• Celtics: --

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #66 Haywoode Workman, #73 Tre Maddox
• Attendance: 18624
• Duration: 2:02