MIAMI
JANUARY 23 2009 07:20h
Text
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 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



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