Celtics Beat Magic To Clinch 7th Successive Win

Hedo Turkoglu led the way with 22 points and Rashard Lewis had 20 for the Magic (33-9), who shot just 7-for-22 from the 3-point line.

The Boston Celtics continued their winning run in the Eastern Conference with a 90-80 road victory over the previously top-ranked Orlando Magic on Thursday.

The Celtics' defense returned to the form that helped capture the NBA title last year, holding the Magic to 38 percent shooting and a season-low point total in snapping Orlando's seven-game winning streak.

"We got back to our bread and butter -- things we worked on in training camp from day one, we're back to that," Kevin Garnett told reporters.

"A year makes you better. We really do give two cents about each other. A lot of teams talk about it but we do it. It's not hard to work hard."

With the loss, the Magic (33-9) fell out of the top spot in the NBA.

Boston (36-9) stretched their own winning mark to seven in a row, led by 27 points and 10 rebounds from Paul Pierce and 16 points from Garnett.

BENCH BOOST

Glen Davis contributed 16 points off the bench, providing the Celtics with a boost from the reserves for the second consecutive night in a row. Eddie House had 25 in Boston's 98-83 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

Hedo Turkoglu led the way with 22 points and Rashard Lewis had 20 for the Magic, who shot just 7-for-22 from the 3-point line.

All-Star big man Dwight Howard was limited to just 11 points and 11 rebounds while being defended by a host of Celtics post players, including Kendrick Perkins, who played in his second game since returning from a shoulder injury.

Boston began the third quarter with a 12-4 spurt to take a commanding 56-40 lead with 5:24 remaining in the period.

Orlando pulled within 84-77 on a jumper by Jameer Nelson with 2:02 left, but it was as close as the Magic would get.

Nelson finished 17 points on 6-for-16 shooting and his Orlando team managed just 36 points in the first half.

"It's good to play these games. There is no question it gets you ready," said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy.

"I am not making too much of one game (though) so I'm not worried about it."

The Celtics latest streak has come on the heels of their season-worst 2-7 slump. They have won their last five games by double figures.

RESULTS from the NBA games on Thursday
(home team in CAPS)
Boston     90 ORLANDO    80
LA LAKERS 117 Washington 97

NBA STANDINGS on Thursday
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION

               W  L  PCT  GB
 1. Boston        36 9  .800 -
 2. Philadelphia  20 21 .488 14
 3. New Jersey    19 23 .452 15 1/2
 4. NY Knicks     17 24 .415 17
 5. Toronto       16 28 .364 19 1/2
 CENTRAL DIVISION

               W  L  PCT  GB
 1. Cleveland     32 8  .800 -
 2. Detroit       24 17 .585 8 1/2
 3. Milwaukee     21 24 .467 13 1/2
 4. Chicago       18 25 .419 15 1/2
 5. Indiana       15 27 .357 18
 SOUTHEAST DIVISION

               W  L  PCT  GB
 1. Orlando       33 9  .786 -
 2. Atlanta       25 16 .610 7 1/2
 3. Miami         22 19 .537 10 1/2
 4. Charlotte     17 25 .405 16
 5. Washington    9  33 .214 24
 WESTERN CONFERENCE
 NORTHWEST DIVISION

               W  L  PCT  GB
 1. Denver        28 15 .651 -
 2. Portland      25 17 .595 2 1/2
 3. Utah          25 18 .581 3
 4. Minnesota     13 27 .325 13 1/2
 5. Oklahoma City 9  34 .209 19
 PACIFIC DIVISION

               W  L  PCT  GB
 1. LA Lakers     34 8  .810 -
 2. Phoenix       23 17 .575 10
 3. Golden State  13 30 .302 21 1/2
 4. Sacramento    10 33 .233 24 1/2
 5. LA Clippers   9  32 .220 24 1/2
 SOUTHWEST DIVISION

               W  L  PCT  GB
 1. San Antonio   28 13 .683 -
 2. New Orleans   26 13 .667 1
 3. Houston       27 16 .628 2
 4. Dallas        24 18 .571 4 1/2
 5. Memphis       11 30 .268 17