MAGIC: GAMETIME: 04/15/07 vs. Boston

GAMETIME: Orlando Magic 88, Boston Celtics 86

April 15, 2007 - Amway Arena

	1	2	3	4	F
CELTICS	24	16	19	27	86
MAGIC	23	25	30	10	88

GAME INFO

Tipoff: 6:00 PM ET
TV: WRBW MY65 | Radio: WDBO AM 580 | Spanish Radio: AM 1030 WONQ

By Matthew Gardner | OrlandoMagic.com

FOURTH QUARTER
Celtics score the first four points of the fourth quarter before Arroyo's jumper makes it an 80-63 Orlando lead.

The celebrating in Orlando may have started a bit early. Boston has now gone on a 17-5 run and closed within five points, 85-80. Grant Hill's free throws give the Magic a seven-point advantage and a bit of breathing room with 4:00 left. Rondo is then sent to the line where he makes a pair at the 3:11 mark, again cutting the lead to only five.

Two minutes to play and still a five-point Magic lead. Jefferson hits a jumper to cut the lead to three, the lowest it's been since early in the second quarter. Magic turnover then gives the ball back to Celtics with 1:13 remaining. Jefferson then puts a move on Darko Milicic and makes a layup, making it a one-point game in the final minute. Nelson's shot doesn't fall and Celtics grab the rebound. But they can't hold onto it and the turnover gives the ball back to Orlando with 39.2 left in the game. A once 20-point lead has fallen to only one.

Magic has only scored nine points in the fourth quarter and committed 10 turnovers. That is going to have to end now if that playoff berth is going to be earned tonight. Boston has made this game too close for comfort. After the timeout, Nelson misses another jumper, but Howard gets the rebound with 13.5 left and is fouled. He heads to the line for two very, very important free throws. The first one doesn't fall. The second one is also off the mark. Boston will have a chance to win with 12.7 left in the game.

Rondo has his shot blocked by Nelson with 4.6 seconds left and Howard grabs the rebound. Dwight will head back to the line, but is only 3-of-10 tonight. He misses the first one again. He hits the second one this time. Magic has a two-point lead, 88-86.

One final attempt by Boston and West has his shot blocked by Turkoglu. Magic win and are in the playoffs!!!

Final: Orlando Magic 88, Boston Celtics 86

THIRD QUARTER
Magic now only two quarters away from a playoff berth. All they have to do now is maintain a lead. Boston hits the first two buckets of the second half, but Turkoglu comes back with a jumper and Magic lead by six. Turkoglu adds another, Howard puts in a big dunk and Turkoglu then hits a three and Orlando opens up an 11-point lead, 57-46. Hill adds a layup, followed by one from Nelson and it's a 61-46 Magic lead.

What once was a four-point game is now a 17-point Magic lead. Orlando has come out of the third quarter on fire, surely wanting to not wait another day to secure the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. After a Boston bucket, Dooling hits a three, followed by a layup (and draws the foul), making it a 19-point game. One quarter to play and the Magic has a 21-point lead. Twelve minutes away from securing that playoff spot!!

End of Third Quarter: Orlando Magic 78, Boston Celtics 59

SECOND QUARTER
Boston looks in no hurry to improve its chances for a top lottery pick in June's draft, playing quite well despite having Pierce sitting on the bench in street clothes. Jefferson seems to like being on the floor with another young phenom like Howard. He's already got 12 points, while Rajon Rondo's got seven and Green has added five off the bench as Boston leads by two, 30-28 at the 9:39 mark.

A Howard free throw, along with a Hill layup puts Orlando back on top at the 8:12 mark. Hill then hits a pair of free throws to make it a three-point Magic lead before Ryan Gomes buries a jumper to keep the visitors within one. Ariza then makes a bucket and is fouled, keeping it a three-point game.

Leon Powe hits 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to bring Boston back within one. But Turkoglu is fouled and hits both free throws. Hill then gets loose on a fastbreak and makes it a 41-36 ballgame. Magic opening up a bit of a lead now as Howard's dunk at the 3:33 gives Orlando its largest lead of the night at eight, 44-36. But Rondo gets a steal and an easy layup, cutting it to six.

The Magic getting to the free throw line late in the half. Howard hits 1-of-2 and Turkoglu knocks down a pair and the Magic lead moves to nine, 47-38. Gomes tips back a Telfair miss in the final minute. Keyon Dooling is the next to get to the line with 32.4 seconds left. He hits 1-of-2, bringing the lead back to eight.

Halftime: Orlando Magic 48, Boston Celtics 40

FIRST QUARTER
A win and they are in. That's as simple as it gets this evening for the Orlando Magic. Thanks to a little help from the Indiana Pacers, the magic number has fallen to one for Orlando. After strong efforts at Detroit and Philadelphia, a similar performance at home will give Orlando its first postseason visit since 2003.

Magic off to a solid start. After a turnover on a Grant Hill travel call to start the game, Orlando has hit 3-of-4 from the field and marched out to a 7-2 lead. Dwight Howard, who scored a career-high 35 points against the Sixers on Saturday, already has a field goal and a free throw (completed three-point play). The Magic followed that stretch by missing its next six shots before Hill's steal led to a fastbreak layup to keep Orlando up by three. But buckets by Kendrick Perkins and Al Jefferson gives the visiting Celtics a one-point lead, 10-9.

Both teams have struggled from the field in the opening quarter. Magic is only 5-of-16, while Boston is just a tad better at 6-of-13. The low scoring affair up to this point has Orlando leading by one, 15-14, t the 3:00 mark.

Celtics hit a pair of shots to go up by four, but Magic claw back in the final minute to tie the game at 21. Jameer Nelson is fouled by Sebastian Telfair and goes to the line with 45 ticks left. He hits both free throws to give Orlando a two-point lead, 23-21. Orlando called for defensive three-seconds technical and Gerald Green hits the free throw with 32.2 seconds left. Al Jefferson hits a jumper with .07 seconds left to give Boston a lead after one quarter.

End of First Quarter: Boston Celtics 24, Orlando Magic 23

PACERS LOSE, MAGIC CAN SECURE PLAYOFF BERTH WITH WIN
The "magic" number is down to one for Orlando. That's because Indiana fell to New Jersey, 111-107, on Sunday afternoon. That means if the Magic is successful in defeating the Boston Celtics at Amway Arena this afternoon, Orlando is officially into the playoffs.

PREGAME
Though tonight's opponent holds the worst record in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic will be challenging the Boston Celtics like there's no tomorrow. That's because Orlando's magic number for reaching the playoffs is down to two. Two victories in their final three games or one victory and an Indiana loss and the Magic are in officially in the playoffs. Before the game begins, Orlando should have a better idea of how early it can clinch a postseason spot as the Pacers face the New Jersey Nets on Sunday afternoon.

The Magic will go with their regular starting five - Hedo Turkoglu, Tony Battie, Dwight Howard, Grant Hill and Jameer Nelson. The Celtics, who are without Paul Pierce, Tony Allen and Wally Szczerbiak due to injury will start Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Kendrick Perkins, Delonte West and Rajon Rondo.

J.J. Redick, who sat out yesterday's contest in Philadelphia, is active for tonight's game. Inactive will be James Augustine, Travis Diener and Pat Garrity.

MAGIC INJURY REPORT
none

TONIGHT�S OPPONENT:
Apr. 15 vs. Boston (Orlando, FL): Orlando is 32-39 all-time vs. Boston in regular season action (23-12 at home, 9-27 on the road), including 2-1 this season (see recaps below)�The Magic went 3-1 last season against the Celtics...The Magic are 3-1 vs. the Celtics in the playoffs (1-1 at home, 2-0 on the road, 1995 first round series)...Orlando has won five of the last seven matchups with the Celtics�Orlando has won six of the last eight and 13 of the last 17 meetings at home...The Magic snapped an eight-game road losing streak in the series on Nov. 28, 2005 (87-83), but the Celtics have won 10 of the last 12 matchups in Boston�Orlando defeated Boston in the last game ever played at the Boston Garden, 95-92, on May 5, 1995...Tony Battie was with Boston for five-plus seasons (1998-2003) before being traded to Cleveland (Dec. 15, 2003)�Assistant Coach John Kuester coached at Boston University from 1981-85, including two seasons as head coach from 1983-85�He then spent seven seasons with the Celtics (1990-97), including two as an assistant coach from 1995-97�Assistant Coach Mark Bryant spent time with Boston during his playing career.

Mar. 28 @ Boston � Celtics 105, Magic 96 (2OT): Paul Pierce poured in a game-high 32 points, as Boston defeated Orlando, 105-96 in double overtime at TD Banknorth Garden. Al Jefferson tallied 23 points and 13 boards for the Celtics, while Kendrick Perkins added 11 points and 12 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu and Grant Hill each scored 20 points to pace the Magic, and Dwight Howard notched 12 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots. The Celtics led by as many as 14 points, but Orlando overcame the deficit and led 83-81 late in regulation. Pierce hit a jumper with 7.6 seconds left to tie the game and forced the first overtime. Orlando led 90-87 late in the extra session, but Pierce came through again, draining a three-pointer with 19.7 seconds left to tie the game. Jefferson scored eight points during the second overtime and the Magic could not close the contest, allowing the Celtics to escape with the win.�

Jan. 7 vs. Boston � Magic 87, Celtics 79: Grant Hill poured in a game-high-tying 21 points and pulled down eight boards, as Orlando defeated Boston, 87-79, at Amway Arena. The game was marred by a combined 79 free throw attempts and 40 turnovers. Dwight Howard tallied 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, while Tony Battie recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Tony Allen led the Celtics with 21 points, nine boards and seven steals. Both teams struggled from the floor � Orlando shot 37.5 percent, while Boston shot just 31.5 percent. The Magic led from start to finish, leading by as many as 17 points during the first half�

Nov. 13 @ Boston � Magic 92, Celtics 89: Jameer Nelson scored a game-high 24 points, as Orlando defeated Boston, 92-89, at TD Banknorth Garden. Nelson was 11-of-17 from the floor and also dished out seven assists. Grant Hill netted 18 points, while Dwight Howard recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 21 points, but was 6-of-20 from the floor. Orlando shot 53.5 percent from the floor. Boston shot 38.3 percent from the field, but was 7-of-14 from three-point range. Five of the Celtics� trifectas came during the fourth quarter. Boston took an 84-83 advantage after a layup by Kendrick Perkins with 2:35 left. Hill and the Magic answered with a tough layup on the next possession to regain the lead, 85-84. Nelson scored five of Orlando�s last six points to help seal the win, including a key jumper with 12 ticks remaining.
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)