MAGIC STILL STANDING

 

(Image taken from NBA.com)

The 2010 NBA playoffs were really heating up at this point, the Eastern Conference Finals particularly so. Despite the series starting in Orlando, the Magic made a mess of things early on, losing Game 1 92-88 and Game 2 95-92. For Games 3 and 4, the series shifted to Boston, surely the Magic were dead and buried. Sure enough the Celtics won Game 3 94-71 which meant that surely the Magic would be starting their summer holidays soon afterwards. However they had other ideas and won Game 4 96-92 in overtime. That forced a Game 5 back in Orlando where the Magic had to go into "not in my house" mode in order to stay alive a bit longer.

Well the Celtics came up strong early on, leadding 5-0 with 9:58 left in the first quarter and even once the Magic found their range, held on to start with. It wasn't long before the Magic took the lead though but the Celtics still came back to tie the game mid quarter. After a long scoreless period by either side, the Celtics came back to duel with the Magic for the lead and seemingly have the edge in that contest but the Magic held on, and in the back end of the quarter they really stretched their legs, creating clear air between the Celtics for the first time in the match. They led 31-27 at the end of the opener with Jameer Nelson on 7 points.

With their first bucket of the 2nd quarter, the Celtics cut the gap to two but the Magic said "fine by us" and stretched their legs again, extending the lead. The Celtics didn't really look capable of slowing the Magic down any time soon and the gap hit double digits by mid quarter. The best the Celtics looked likely to do for the rest of the half was tread water, either way it looked as though it would be Doc Rivers for once with a lot to talk about in the locker room. Just when the Celtics looked like they might be getting competitive again, one of their guys got ejected for an iffy double T. Magic led 57-49 at half time. JJ Reddick was leading the way with 11 points.

3rd quarter. Again the Celtics hit the opening bucket. Again the Magic proved more than capable of responding and it looked like we'd get more of the same. This time though, the Celtics caught a second wind, but they never looked like turning the game round from that position. They kept trying though and cut the gap to six yet again with just under six minutes left in the quarter but the Magic retook a double digit lead and the Celtics had to start all over again. Losing a second center, this time to a concussion didn't do them any favours at all. Magic led 84-75 by the end of this quarter with Dwight Howard now leading the charge on 17 points.

Though the Celtics cut the deficit to eight early in the 4th, another of their guys had to leave the game due to concussion. This was not their night. Credit to the men in green they kept at it but this game looked to be wrapped up by the Magic as the road team was hit by yet further disasters. By midway in the final period, well it was the sort of deficit I've seen turned round before but the Celtics just didn't look capable on this night. The Magic were just cruising away and won the game 113-92 with Nelson leading on 24 points, backed up by Howard on 21 points with further backup provided by Rashard Lewis with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Celtics still lead the series 3-2 but aren't looking so secure right now.

Out West, the Lakers faced the Suns in LA. Well the Suns were hot to start with and led 17-10 with 5:00 left in the first. The Lakers were still leading when the first buzzer sounded though. By midway through the 2nd quarter the Lakers were really running the show. The Suns were able to reign them in but still had a lot of work to do in the 2nd half. Late in the 3rd quarter though and they looked to be starting to do that work. Still the Lakers held on. The home side looked like they may yet get mugged in the 4th quarter though, when they hit a three pointer to tie the game with three second on the clock. Lakers scrabbled in a layup at the buzzer though. Kobe Bryant grabbed 30 points. Lakers won 103-101.

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