FINAL: Magic 95, Celtics 90
Celtics come up short (FINAL: Magic 95, Celtics 90)
Not enough left time for the Celtics to complete their comeback. Orlando hangs on for the win and takes a 1-0 series lead.
Bye bye Baby (19.1 fourth quarter, Magic 91-87)
Paul Pierce drove and came up empty. Glen Davis fouled on the rebound, his sixth of the game.
Timeout (35.1 fourth quarter, Magic 91-87)
Paul Pierce made two free throws, but Ray Allen just missed a 3-pointer that would have brought the Celtics to within a point. The defense has held strong here, though, allowing the Celtics to stay in range.
Big shots (2:40 fourth quarter, Magic 89-83)
Just like that, the Celtics have gotten the shots they needed. Brian Scalabrine hit a 3-pointer to get it started, and Paul Pierce nailed a three on Boston’s next trip to bring the Celtics the closest they have been all half.
We’ve got a game.
Running out of time (3:45 fourth quarter, Magic 86-75)
The Celtics have gone cold (36 percent shooting for the game) and are running out of time to complete a comeback.
Timeout (6:52 fourth quarter, Magic 82-73)
Both offenses have slowed here, but the game is still within reach. Brian Scalabrine just grabbed two offensive rebounds in a row to earn the Celtics their third chance to score after this timeout. Scalabrine leads the Celtics reserves with 20 minutes played.
Also of note: The Magic took eight free throws in the first half and have now taken 16. The Celtics have taken 20 free throws since halftime.
It’s only 10 (10:10 fourth quarter, Magic 81-71)
A 9-3 run to start the fourth quarter has gotten the Celtics back into this game. Rondo appears to be playing like a man possessed. He’s got 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.
THIRD QUARTER
Still a long way up (END third quarter, Magic 78-62)
The Celtics were down 28 points with 8:36 left in the third quarter but mounted somewhat of a comeback toward the end of the period. The Celtics did not attempt a single free throw in the first half, but Rajon Rondo got to the line himself 12 times in the third.
Despite all that, the Celtics are still down big. And Glen Davis picked up his fifth foul of the game with just 0.4 seconds remaining in the third.
Holy free throws (1:49 third quarter, Magic 74-58)
Rajon Rondo has only made one shot from the field, but he’s gotten to the line 10 times this quarter. He now has 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Long range (2:58 third quarter, Magic 74-55)
Three-pointers are a big part of Orlando’s game, and tonight is no exception. The Magic are 8 of 18 from long distance, while the Celtics are 4 of 12. Five players have hit threes for Orlando.
Good take (6:54 third quarter, Magic 66-46)
He had just 2 points in the first half, and he’s 1 of 8 from the floor, but Rajon Rondo has come out hard in the third quarter. Rondo just tried to dunk on Dwight Howard, earning himself two free throws.
U-G-L-Y (9:27 third quarter, Magic 62-37)
The Magic start the second half with an 8-1 run, and this one has really gotten out of hand.
A first (11:13 third quarter, Magic 54-37)
Paul Pierce is the first Celtics player to get to the line tonight. He makes 1 of 2.
SECOND QUARTER
Big run for Magic (HALFTIME, Magic 54-36)
The Magic went on a 24-6 run in the final five minutes of the second quarter to take a commanding lead at the break.
Turnovers (eight) and shooting (39 percent) were both major problems for the Celtics. They also allowed Orlando to shoot 52 percent.
The most staggering stat: Zero free throws for Boston in the first half.
Big trouble (4:05 second quarter, Magic 39-32)
Seconds after reentering the game, Paul Pierce picked up his third personal foul trying to block Dwight Howard. Pierce is back on the bench.
Timeout (6:11 second quarter, Magic 34-30)
The Celtics have been plagued by turnovers in the first half, giving it up six times. Orlando has scored 10 points off of those turnovers.
Bench mob (8:43 second quarter, Celtics 30-28)
Stephon Marbury has 8 points off the bench after taking it to the hole on two more occasions. Eddie House chipped in with a 3-pointer to bring the Celtics back into the lead.
A Marbury sighting (10:23 second quarter, Magic 24-23)
Stephon Marbury drove the lane for back-to-back floaters to give the crowd some life. Marbury hasn’t shown that kind of aggressiveness in a while.
FIRST QUARTER
Lewis off to hot start (END first quarter, Magic 24-19)
Doc Rivers told us he was worried about Rashard Lewis, and it looks like he was right. Lewis had 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the first quarter.
Glen Davis is guarding Lewis, and it’s clear that this just isn’t a very good matchup for him on the defensive end. The Celtics need to do a better job giving him help. Offensively, though, Davis has been able to go to work for 6 points.
Timeout (3:55 first quarter, Tied at 15)
Fun start to this one. It’s interesting to go from watching two teams who know each other well for seven games to watching two teams feeling each other out.
One thing the Celtics need to fix in this timeout: Get a hand in Rashard Lewis’s face. The lanky power forward has 8 points and is really stretching the Boston defense.
Still a block party (6:37 first quarter, Tied at 6)
Dwight Howard has a couple of blocks of his own, but Glen Davis just met him at the rim and swatted away another offering. The big men are making it fun here at the start.
Block party (10:08 first quarter, Tied at 0)
Kendrick Perkins just swatted away a Dwight Howard turnaround jumper.
Just before tip
Not as many media members here as there were during Saturday night’s Game 7 against the Bulls. Obviously a sold-out crowd, though.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com