Magic Beat Celtics 113-92 to Avoid Elimination in NBA Playoffs

By Nancy Kercheval

May 27 (Bloomberg) -- The Orlando Magic sent the Boston Celtics to their second straight defeat to avoid elimination in the National Basketball Association’s Eastern Conference finals.
The Magic won 113-92 at the Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida, last night to cut Boston’s lead in the best-of- seven playoff series to 3-2.
“It was our best offensive night of the series,” Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said at a news conference. “Game 6 we will need to be better at both ends.”





Boston will seek to avoid a return to Orlando for a seventh game on May 30 by winning at home tomorrow. No team has rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series in 93 tries, while only three have forced a seventh game.
Jameer Nelson had 24 points and Dwight Howard added 21 for the Magic, who outscored the Celtics in every quarter. Orlando led 31-27 after the first quarter, 57-49 at halftime and began the fourth quarter with an 84-75 advantage.
The winner will meet the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers or Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. That series resumes tonight in Los Angeles with the teams tied at 2-2.
Boston center Kendrick Perkins may be suspended for Game 6 after receiving his seventh technical foul of the playoffs. Perkins was ejected after getting his second technical of the game, for arguing with officials.
Rasheed Wallace came off the bench to score 21 points for the Celtics, while Rajon Rondo had 19 points.