FINAL: Magic 101, Celtics 82

By Gary Dzen

May 17, 2009

4 minutes to read

All done (FINAL: Magic 101, Celtics 82)

Game over. Season over. The Magic move on to the Eastern Conference finals.

Nevermind (3:27 fourth quarter, Magic 95-78)
A couple of threes by Hedo Turkoglu (25 points), and just like that fans are streaming toward the exits.

A glimpse of hope (4:12 fourth quarter, Magic 90-78)
A 3-pointer by Ray Allen brings the Celtics to within 12 points. The Magic showed that they can blow big leads earlier in this series, but this one would go above and beyond any lead Orlando has given up.

Biggest lead (7:02 fourth quarter, Magic 85-66)
Orlando’s largest lead of the game is now 19 points. Time is running out on the Celtics.

Lead swells (8:04 fourth quarter, Magic 81-65)
The Magic have put the pedal down to the floor here in the third quarter. Five Magic players are in double figures, led by Hedo Turkoglu’s 18 points.

End game (10:30 fourth quarter, Magic 74-61)
Mickael Pietrus is 5 of 6, his latest jumper giving Orlando a 13-point lead.

THIRD QUARTER

Home stretch (END third quarter, Magic 66-61)
Rajon Rondo beat the clock with a jumper at the buzzer to give the crowd new life and, once again, put the Celtics back in contention as we enter the final quarter.

Kendrick Perkins missed three lay-ups with just under a minute left in the quarter, acting out what is every big man’s nightmare. Perkins is 3 for 10 from the floor and representative of the Celtics’ 39 percent shooting overall.

Outside chance (2:15 third quarter, Magic 64-57)
Ray Allen (20 points) is keeping the Celtics in this game, but Boston needs to force Orlando into more difficult shots from the outside. The Magic have made 10 threes.

Another dagger (5:27 third quarter, Magic 57-50)
J.J. Redick just knocked down Orlando’s ninth 3-pointer of the game. Orlando is shooting it at a 56 percent clip.

A stern lecture (6:15 third quarter, Magic 54-50)
Dwight Howard just complained to the official that he was grabbed by Paul Pierce, and the ref was not having it, giving it right back to Howard before going over and explaining the situation to Stan Van Gundy.

Baby (10:13 third quarter, Magic 45-42)
Glen Davis has come out with a purpose in the second half, first cutting to the hoop for a dunk, then earning a trip to the line.

SECOND QUARTER

Halftime (END second quarter, Magic 45-38)
Ray Allen closed it to 42-38 with a 3-pointer at the 1:36 mark, but Rafer Alston answered before the end of the half as the Magic did their best to fend off a Boston run before the break.

Allen’s three snapped an 0-for-8 streak for the shooting guard from beyond the arc. Allen leads the Celtics with 13 points at the break.

Dwight Howard had 8 points and 8 rebounds in the first half but went to the bench with three fouls. The Magic are killing it from outside, hitting 7 of 10 threes.

The big three (2:06 second quarter, Magic 42-33)
Dwight Howard picks up his third personal foul. Hedo Turkoglu also has three for Orlando.

Driven (3:15 second quarter, Magic 39-33)
Ray Allen takes it to the hole to get the Celtics within 6. No 3-pointers this quarter for the Magic. That’s a 10-2 run for the Celtics.

Dizzy (4:57 second quarter, Magic 39-29)
Dwight Howard comes up with a spin move we didn’t think the big man had, deftly avoiding defenders on his way to the hole.

Call it what you will (6:55 second quarter, Magic 37-23)
Ray Allen drove and appeared to get hammered by Marcin Gortat on one end, while Rashard Lewis drew a foul on Brian Scalabrine after Scal appeared to clear his hand away as Lewis shot the ball.

Two much (9:31 second quarter, Magic 31-21)
Glen Davis called for the charge, his second personal foul. Don’t be surprised if he stays on the bench the rest of the half.

FIRST QUARTER

False start (END first quarter, Magic 27-17)
Not the start the Celtics wanted. They’ve come out flat on both ends of the floor, with the
defense being particularly woeful, allowing the Magic to shoot at will (5 of 6) from the outside. That’s not to let the offense off the hook. Five turnovers and 39 percent shooting are no way to win a game.

Timeout (1:47 first quarter, Magic 24-13)
Was that a mocking cheer I just heard? Paul Pierce drove to the hoop and earned a trip to the line, drawing some sarcastic applause from the home folks. The Magic do have four team fouls, however, so the crowd’s ire would be better directed at the Celtics’ defense, which has allowed the Magic to make four of five 3-pointers.

Baby steps (3:15 first quarter, Magic 22-13)
Glen Davis pulls off a drive that only he could, barreling down the left side of the lane and contorting that big body for a layup.

Timeout (5:26 first quarter, Magic 19-9)
The Celtics aren’t going to make this a competitive game if they allow the Magic to shoot 72.7 percent from the floor. Orlando is 8 of 11 so far.

Long distance call (6:16 first quarter, Magic 15-7)
Rashard Lewis just dropped in a three from the corner without a defender anywhere near him. Celtics need to extend their defense, and fast.

Ball movement (9:14 first quarter, Magic 6-5)
Ray Allen to Kendrick Perkins to Glen Davis for a layup and the foul. The crowd is fired up here at the Garden. Great atmosphere tonight.