Magic holding on in Eastern finals
May 25, 2010 16:07:22 UK
Two three-pointers from Jameer Nelson in overtime secured the Orlando Magic a crucial 96-92 away win against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
Trailing 3-0 in the series and facing elimination, Nelson stepped up to the plate on Monday night while Dwight Howard produced 32 points and 16 rebounds to drive the Magic on to what proved to be a dramatic win.
Having extended their interest in the finals by avoiding a four-game whitewash, Orlando will host the Celtics in Game 5 on Wednesday with the series poised at 3-1.
On the Spread for Wednesday's game the Magic are available at -4.0 1.86 with the Celtics +4.0 1.95.
Should the Magic win again they will have the chance to level the finals on Friday.
The Celtics were the much superior side in the opening three games, but their form deserted them just as Orlando found some of their own.
While the hosts' key men failed to really show up in the fourth game, the Magic seemed to steel themselves following their humiliation in the third match, in which they were outclassed 94-71.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers admitted: "We didn't play well. We didn't play with great energy.
"I thought they had far more energy tonight to start the game; I thought they jumped on us.
"I thought, you know, they played harder in the first half. They got all the loose balls. They won the 50-50 game. They made all the extra plays. And then from that point on we're fighting back to get back into the game.
"I did like our second half energy and I liked their second-half defence. I didn't like anything about the first half."
Magic counterpart Stan van Gundy insisted his side showed heart, not desperation.
"I don't think we played desperately, but I do think we played hard and we fought," he said. "I thought in the first half we played well. In the second half, in overtime, 15 turnovers. We didn't play well. But we did keep fighting and fighting and fighting."
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