Dwight Howard returned from a suspension to get 16 points and 22 rebounds as Orlando survived a late rally from Boston to beat the Celtics 95-90 in the opening game of their NBA quarter-final series
Dwight Howard returned from a suspension to get 16 points and 22 rebounds as Orlando survived a late rally from Boston to beat the Celtics 95-90 in the opening game of their NBA quarter-final series.
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The Magic opened a 28-point lead early in the second half before Boston cut the deficit to 91-87 in the final two minutes.
The Celtics had several chances to come within one possession - the best Ray Allen's three-pointer that rimmed out with 43 seconds remaining.
"We got complacent as a team, stopped doing what we did to get the lead and against a good Celtics team you can't do that," Howard said. "I'm not happy with the way we ended the game."
Paul Pierce made a three-pointer with 6.6 seconds left to make it a three-point game, but J.J. Redick went four-for-four from the line in the last 14 seconds to ice it.
Pierce scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half and Rajon Rondo had 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The Celtics used a 15-4 run to get the lead under 20 points and came as close as 74-60 near the end of the third quarter.
France's Mickael Pietrus hit a three-pointer to make it 81-64, then Boston scored seven straight points, getting a jumper from Pierce, a three-pointer off a jump ball from Eddie House and then Rondo's steal and dunk to make it a 10-point game.
Boston had just one day off since eliminating the Chicago Bulls in a best-of-seven series. The teams played a record four overtime games and seven overtimes periods in all - nearly three extra quarters of basketball.
Orlando finished off Philadelphia in six games on Thursday and Howard has been resting up even longer. He was suspended for the series finale for elbowing Sixers centre Samuel Dalembert.
"It felt like I was out 10 games," Howard said. "I was a little rusty. We'll be ready for game two."
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