BOSTON - The Orlando Magic were straddling the final moments of Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, only seconds away from being portrayed as the victim of a great comeback or an enabler of a colossal collapse.
Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy certainly wasn't on the fence about how he felt the outcome should be written, broadcasted, analyzed or Twittered.
The Magic took the first step — albeit a shaky one — toward dethroning the NBA champs with a 95-90 victory Monday night at TD Banknorth Garden. Van Gundy's team might have lost almost all of a 28-point third-quarter lead, but it didn't lose the series opener, even if Magic fans needed heart defibrillators.
"You guys get into, 'Oh, what a great comeback.' How about the fact we were up by 28? We play these games to win, and that's it. We won," Van Gundy said, rather defiantly. "Right now, the series is 1-nothing."
True enough. He and the Magic will worry about caving into defensive pressure today as they head into Wednesday night's Game 2.
Only in the playoffs can you be on your way to a rout ... and leave the feeling like you stole something.
Van Gundy is the biggest nitpicker of all, but he's right: The Magic accomplished their mission — stealing home-court advantage from the relentless Celtics.
They needed four free throws by J.J. Redick in the last 13 seconds to stave off a furious Celtics comeback and take a 93-87 lead.
Trailing by 28 points at 65-37 with nine minutes left in the third, the Celtics called on all their mystique and lucky charms to stage a Herculean comeback and cut it to three points. Paul Pierce hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left to make it a one-possession game until Redick was fouled and sealed it with two more free throws.
"Clearly, when we put pressure on them it became a whole different game," Boston Coach Doc Rivers said.
The Magic could make only 5-of-20 shots in the final quarter and committed six turnovers, their offense wilting against the Celtics' trademark defense. They were so rattled that Hedo Turkoglu couldn't get the ball up the court in time, whistled for an eight-second violation .
"We were sort of trying to run out the clock," Van Gundy said. "You can't do that in games like this."
Redick closing the show was a fitting end for the Magic. Having lost starting shooting guard Courtney Lee (sinus surgery), they entered the game with just two shooting guards and match-up fears against Ray Allen.
But Redick survived like his team. He finished with 12 points to only nine points from Allen, and had some help from Turkoglu as the pair held Allen to a frosty 2-of-12 shooting.
"Ray's a great scorer and some nights he's going to hit those tough shots. Tonight he didn't hit them," Redick said.
And then there was the other shooting guard who was supposed to be the Magic's key free-agent catch, but struggled through an injury-plagued season. Mickael Pietrus scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, hitting some big baskets to blunt various Celtics uprisings.
"I haven't played a lot, I know. I had a lot of injuries, but no matter. It is the playoffs and I want to win a championship," Pietrus said.
Rashard Lewis paced the Magic early to an 18-point halftime lead, finishing with 18 points. Turkoglu added 15 points and Dwight Howard scored 16 points and corralled 22 rebounds. All of that boardwork by Howard, and the Celtics — missing Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe — out-rebounded them 47-40.
"We let the lead slip way but there's plenty of positives," Redick said. "We got a big win to start the series and that's what matters."
Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy certainly wasn't on the fence about how he felt the outcome should be written, broadcasted, analyzed or Twittered.
The Magic took the first step — albeit a shaky one — toward dethroning the NBA champs with a 95-90 victory Monday night at TD Banknorth Garden. Van Gundy's team might have lost almost all of a 28-point third-quarter lead, but it didn't lose the series opener, even if Magic fans needed heart defibrillators.
"You guys get into, 'Oh, what a great comeback.' How about the fact we were up by 28? We play these games to win, and that's it. We won," Van Gundy said, rather defiantly. "Right now, the series is 1-nothing."
True enough. He and the Magic will worry about caving into defensive pressure today as they head into Wednesday night's Game 2.
Only in the playoffs can you be on your way to a rout ... and leave the feeling like you stole something.
Van Gundy is the biggest nitpicker of all, but he's right: The Magic accomplished their mission — stealing home-court advantage from the relentless Celtics.
They needed four free throws by J.J. Redick in the last 13 seconds to stave off a furious Celtics comeback and take a 93-87 lead.
Trailing by 28 points at 65-37 with nine minutes left in the third, the Celtics called on all their mystique and lucky charms to stage a Herculean comeback and cut it to three points. Paul Pierce hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left to make it a one-possession game until Redick was fouled and sealed it with two more free throws.
"Clearly, when we put pressure on them it became a whole different game," Boston Coach Doc Rivers said.
The Magic could make only 5-of-20 shots in the final quarter and committed six turnovers, their offense wilting against the Celtics' trademark defense. They were so rattled that Hedo Turkoglu couldn't get the ball up the court in time, whistled for an eight-second violation .
"We were sort of trying to run out the clock," Van Gundy said. "You can't do that in games like this."
Redick closing the show was a fitting end for the Magic. Having lost starting shooting guard Courtney Lee (sinus surgery), they entered the game with just two shooting guards and match-up fears against Ray Allen.
But Redick survived like his team. He finished with 12 points to only nine points from Allen, and had some help from Turkoglu as the pair held Allen to a frosty 2-of-12 shooting.
"Ray's a great scorer and some nights he's going to hit those tough shots. Tonight he didn't hit them," Redick said.
And then there was the other shooting guard who was supposed to be the Magic's key free-agent catch, but struggled through an injury-plagued season. Mickael Pietrus scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, hitting some big baskets to blunt various Celtics uprisings.
"I haven't played a lot, I know. I had a lot of injuries, but no matter. It is the playoffs and I want to win a championship," Pietrus said.
Rashard Lewis paced the Magic early to an 18-point halftime lead, finishing with 18 points. Turkoglu added 15 points and Dwight Howard scored 16 points and corralled 22 rebounds. All of that boardwork by Howard, and the Celtics — missing Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe — out-rebounded them 47-40.
"We let the lead slip way but there's plenty of positives," Redick said. "We got a big win to start the series and that's what matters."
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