Orlando Puts An End To Boston’s Winning Streak Win 104-102

It was a bittersweet day for the Boston Celtics. Bitter because the Celtics finally suffered their first loss, succumbing to the Orlando?Magic 104-102. But there was a sweet side too as?Boston took what was a blowout for two and a half quarters, and turned it back into a contest. Boston outscored Orlando 61-46 to come back from the dead, only to fall just a bit short at the end.

When I wrote the preview for this game, I wrote that Boston would lose this game if they took a quarter off the way they had while playing Miami Friday night. Well their offense did not really kick in until the second half, as their backs were against the wall. Boston not only looked like they were going to lose this game but be embarrassed by an Orlando team that basically put on a clinic in the first half.

Dwight Howard, without question is having a breakout season. Whether it would have happened naturally this year or the process was accelerated by his playing this Summer for Team USA is up for conjecture. However, even though this young man?has shown flashes throughout his NBA career, he has never sustained it for this long a period. Howard again on Sunday led the Magic to the victory by scoring 24 points, 3 blocked shots, 3 steals, and 2 assists.? All five Orlando starter scored in double figures, Rashard Lewis had 22,?Jameer Nelson had 18, and 6 assists, Hedo Turkoglu, scored 16, and Keith Bogans had 10.

Boston was down by as many as 20 points in this contest, but with the surge they made in the third and fourth quarters, the Celtics took the lead at 88-87. Orlando would rattle off six unanswered points but Boston again mounted a charge only to fall short by a bucket. Paul Pierce led Boston with a game high 28 points, Ray Allen had 19, Rajon Rondo had 18, and Kevin Garnett had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Boston is now 8-1 after the loss while Orlando now is 9-2.