Celtics swipe Game 5 from Magic
BOSTON (AP) – Ray Allen’s three-pointer with 1:20 left gave Boston its first lead since the opening minutes and the Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 92-88 Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Stephon Marbury scored all of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, keeping the Celtics in the game after a lackluster 36 minutes that left them trailing by 14 with 8:49 to play. Orlando led 85-75 with 5:39 left, then Boston scored the next 13 points to open an 88-85 lead before Rashard Lewis’ free throws with 7.3 seconds left.
Paul Pierce had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, Kendrick Perkins grabbed 11 rebounds, and Game 4 hero Glen Davis scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. Davis also grabbed the rebound and hit a pair of free throws after Dwight Howard intentionally missed a free throw with 5.9 seconds left.
Howard had 12 points and 17 rebounds for Orlando, which needs a victory in Game 6 Thursday night to force the series back to Boston for a decisive seventh game.
Lewis scored 19 and Hedo Turkoglu had 18 with seven assists for the Magic, who lost Game 4 Sunday when Davis hit a 21-foot buzzer-beater.