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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | F | |
| MAGIC | 29 | 14 | 23 | 17 | - | 83 |
| CELTICS | 13 | 27 | 19 | 19 | - | 78 |
Recap:
BOSTON (NBA.com exclusive) -- This game deserves its fair share of disclaimers. Jameer Nelson was out and hasn't played against the Boston Celtics since Jan. 22. Glen Davis, who played so well against the Orlando Magic in their playoff series last season, was out. Rashard Lewis was playing just his third game after serving a 10-game suspension.
It just wasn't going to be indicative of what a playoff matchup could be.
That said, Orlando's 83-78 win at TD Garden was a bullfight. It wasn't always pretty basketball, but it was physical, each team exchanging runs until Vince Carter took over with 10 points in the fourth, 26 overall.
"We showed a lot of resolve tonight, a lot of toughness," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said, "and so did they."
Toughness, maybe, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn't think much of his team's effort otherwise.
"Our team is playing awful," Rivers said. "We are not functioning well as a group. We don't deserve to win games like this."
The Celtics have been plagued this season with slow starts, and tonight wasn't any different. The Magic burst out of the gates with an early 12-1 run, taking a 16-point lead by the end of the first quarter after hitting five 3's.
"We have not been a 48-minute team yet, we just haven't," Rivers said.
For stretches, though, they looked like the superior team. The Celtics all but erased that run in the second, with Paul Pierce and the reserves launching a quarter-long run that would narrow the gap to three at the half.
The second half followed the same pattern. Orlando controlled the third, Boston the fourth. And then it was Carter time. With Pierce hounding him, Carter hit shot after impossible shot, nailing a fadeaway and getting fouled on a made jump hook, with little daylight provided for either.
In the young season, it was a definitive game for the player many thought was a downgrade as the effective replacement for playoff-hero Hedo Turkoglu.
"Carter is a much more established scorer than Turkoglu," Pierce said. "He's one of the best scorers in the history of the game."
Some might say Rasheed Wallace was acquired specifically to deal with the Magic, and tonight he showed why. Despite awful, 4-of-16, shooting, Wallace had his most active and physical game of the season. Topping his previous season-high in rebounds with 13, Wallace paired with Kevin Garnett to frustrate Dwight Howard (9 points, 4 shots) underneath, shoving and elbowing a path for Boston to dominate scoring in the paint, 38-24.
That he hit the game-tying shot, with 2:53 to go, after the Celtics had trailed all night, wasn't bad either. It just wasn't enough.
Rivers made the decision to sit Rajon Rondo (29 minutes) for much of the fourth quarter, opting for Eddie House, but said Rondo wasn't to blame for Boston's poor execution.
"It's not on Rondo," Rivers said. "As a group we have to play better. Rondo didn't play well today."
Boston still had a shot, but Orlando withstood the late surge thanks to Carter. With House, the Celtics made the run that culminated in Wallace's shot and the tie. But a turnover and a poor offensive set in the final minute handed the Magic the game and robbed everyone else of a spectacular finish.
Orlando won the day, but the game was as telling as a sparring bout. Both teams left a lot to be desired, neither were at full strength, and both are likely to change by the time their contests really matter.
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GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
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Preview:
STATS -- The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic waged a back-and-forth seven-game series in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, with the Magic eliminating the Celtics in Boston en route to the NBA finals.
Based on their early success this fall, the teams may have to meet again if either wants to play for the title for a second straight year.
The last two East champions will tangle Friday night in Boston for the first time since their playoff showdown, with Orlando looking for a fourth straight victory and the Celtics hoping to continue their recovery from some recent stumbles.
Boston was without star forward Kevin Garnett for its entire playoff run, but got to a Game 7 against Orlando and was playing at home. The Magic, however, put together a dominating fourth quarter to win 101-82 and dethrone the Celtics.
Orlando (9-3) eventually lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, but despite some changes and early problems, the team is looking like a contender to get back to the finals.
Coach Stan Van Gundy wasn't always happy with his players during the Magic's 6-3 start, but he seemed content after they won their third straight Wednesday night, beating Oklahoma City 108-94.
In his second game after a 10-game drug suspension, Rashard Lewis had 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists despite sitting out the fourth quarter.
"Maybe I should have put Rashard back in there, but I don't think in terms of individual awards or accomplishments," Van Gundy said. "We're on our eighth starting lineup and that's more than I used all of last season. I'm more worried about my guys giving a consistent effort every night and we certainly got that tonight."
In addition to Lewis' suspension, Orlando has dealt with injuries or illness that have caused Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass to miss time. Point guard Jameer Nelson is expected to be out 4-6 weeks after having knee surgery Wednesday.
Nelson, though, was the only key player to miss Wednesday's victory, as Carter scored a team-high 18 points. The Magic acquired Carter to replace departed swingman Hedo Turkoglu, who had 25 points and 12 assists in the decisive playoff victory over Boston.
Veteran Jason Williams filled in for Nelson and had only four points and five assists, but turned the ball over once in 29 minutes.
"I just try to run all the time and hope that the rest of the guys run with me," Williams told the Magic's official Web site. "I think (the Magic are better running) because then teams can't load up on (star center) Dwight (Howard)."
The Celtics (9-3) will likely try to slow the pace and rely on their defense, as they are among three teams allowing fewer than 90 points per game.
A healthier Garnett has returned as the centerpiece defensively, and Boston added veteran Rasheed Wallace to a star-studded lineup as it hopes to make another run at the franchise's 18th NBA title. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen remain the team's top scorers.
The Celtics' play, however, has been uneven after their 6-0 start. They lost back-to-back games against Atlanta and Indiana before rebounding with a 109-95 victory over Golden State on Wednesday.
Rajon Rondo led the way with 18 points and 12 assists after averaging 7.0 points and 6.5 assists in the previous two games.
"I thought he changed the momentum of the game," Garnett said. "I thought he was a lot more solid. He was aggressive. He picked up the energy."
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Game Notes:
Nov. 20 @ Boston: Orlando is 37-42 all-time vs. Boston in regular season action (27-13 at home, 10-29 on the road)…The Magic went 2-2 last season against the Celtics...The Magic are 7-4 vs. the Celtics in the playoffs (1-1 at home, 2-0 on the road, 1995 first round series; 2-1 at home, 2-2 on the road, 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals)...The Magic have won 10 of the last 15 regular season matchups with the Celtics overall…Orlando has won seven of the last eight meetings at home...The Celtics have won 12 of the last 15 matchups in Boston…Orlando defeated Boston in the last game ever played at the Boston Garden, 95-92, on May 5, 1995...Assistant Coach Steve Clifford coached at Boston University for four years.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. CELTICS: 44 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ Orlando, 1-16-04)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 46 pts., Larry Bird (@ Orlando, 3-16-90)
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