Boston Celtics use second half muscle to edge past Orlando Magic 91-83 - NBA Recap
It is games like these that make basketball such an exciting sport.
The Boston Celtics were down and out at, trailing behind by as much as 27 points at one instance. However, they showed tremendous resolve to launch a comeback and in the end walked out as the victorious team.
So, were they that good or did the Orlando Magic simply make a meal of their lead?
It was probably the combination of both.
Magic started the game in outstanding manner and were in the driving seat by the end of the first frame. The highlight was a 13-2 spurt they fuelled in the last three minutes, after they were ahead 19-14.
Veteran C's forward Kevin Garnett struck thrice in the opening minutes of the second frame, but at the other end Glen Davis and JJ Redick kept scoring to neutralize his efforts. Magic were simply unstoppable in the ensuing passage and by attacking at full throttle, they finished the first half with a mammoth 21 point lead 58-37.
The Celtics started the second half with an 8-2 burst, capped by a Paul Pierce finger roll layup, to slash the deficit to 15 points 60-45. The Magic responded by scoring quickly in the next three minutes and again managed to gain a 20 plus lead 68-47.
In the last five minutes of the quarter the Celtics initiated a magnificent 17-7 spurt, capped by Pierce’s downtown strike to end the period with Celtics behind by only 11 points 75-64.
The Celtics pushed their momentum into the decisive frame and turned the game on its head by reeling off a 14-1 burst that not only helped them in cutting the deficit, but in getting ahead 79-76, for the first time in the game.
Magic, stunned with the onslaught, succumbed to the pressure and only managed to score 7 more points in the remaining 7 odd minutes. On the other hand Pierce, Brandon Bass and Etwaun Moore kept finding baskets to see their team home for a massive win.
Pierce marshalled the C’s with a game high 24 points including 8 for 11 from the charity stripe and 10 assists while Moore had 16 points on a perfect 4 for 4 from the long range. Garnett and Mickael Pietrus both accumulated 12 each.
Dwight Howard led the Magic’s offense with 16 points and 16 boards. Jason Richardson bundled 13 while Ryan J Anderson sealed 12 points.
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