MAGIC RIP CELTICS TO TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD

The Orlando Magic used their hot shooting touch and improved defensive intensity to easily beat the Boston Celtics 117-96 in game three of their Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday night.  The Magic held a twelve point lead at halftime and were never really challenged in the second half.  Orlando now leads the best of seven series two games to one, with game four back on their Amway Arena home court on Sunday night.

On the sports betting scoreboard, the Magic easily covered as -4’ point favorites and the final score sailed OVER the posted total of 188’.  Since dropping the first four games of their opening round series against Philadelphia against the spread, the Magic have covered 4 of their last 5.  Friday’s game was also the Magic’s third OVER in four games after having posted four straight UNDER the total.  Boston, meanwhile, has been an OVER machine during the playoffs dating back to the end of the regular season.  Perhaps demonstrating that they miss Kevin Garnett more on the defensive end of the floor than anywhere, the Celtics have exceeded the total in eight of their ten playoff games to date.  Going back even further, Boston has gone OVER in 14 of 17 since April 1^st. 

Rashard Lewis (28 points) and Hedo Turkoglu (24 points) paced the Magic in scoring, but the star of the game was clearly Dwight Howard.  Howard scored 17 points, pulled down 14 and added 5 blocked shots.  Former College of Charleston standout Anthony Johnson added 13 while Courtney Lee chipped in for 11 points off the bench.  The Celtics were led by 27 from Paul Pierce, with reserve Eddie House and Rajon Rondo each scoring 15.  Kendrick Perkins added 10 points to complete the Celtics’ double digit scorers.  The comparative shooting percentages clearly tell the story of this game:  Boston shot a substandard 43% from the field while Orlando burnt the nets for a scorching 59.1%.

After the game, Dwight Howard praised his team’s defensive intensity which he suggested starts with his play:

"Just the whole team stepped up the defensive intensity. It starts with me. I have to do that every night if we want to be successful."

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, however, wasn’t in a mood to start celebrating:

"This is not the time of year to celebrate a win in the playoffs, especially against a team like Boston. It's basically like being at halftime with a one-point lead."

Game four is particularly crucial, and a Magic victory could be too much for the Celtics to overcome.  Despite last year’s NBA title victory the Celtics are only 6-19 ATS on the road during their recent playoff runs, and heading back to Boston in a 3-1 hole will force them to win at home and then head back to Orlando still facing elimination. 

Orlando has been installed as a -4’ point -115 home favorite for game four, with a total of 191’.  Note that Magic point guard Rafer Alston will be back in the lineup for this game after serving a NBA mandated suspension in game three.  After Sunday’s game the series shifts back to Boston’s TD BankNorth Garden for game five on Tuesday night, with a game six if necessary back in Orlando on Thursday.