Boston Celtics again defeated Orlando Magic with 94-71 blow out on the 3rd game of their Eastern Conference Finals battle. Rajon Rondo fired the 1st half of the game with 11 points, 12 assists and 4 steals that lead the whole Celtics team to pick up game three of the series. Out of the bench, Glenn Davis contributed 17 and the Big Three were all in double digits.But above all, the reason the Celtics are now four quarters away from returning to the NBA Finals is simple: they fought harder.
With 8:37 to play in the second quarter, with the Celtics already out to a 17- point lead, J.J. Redick threw an errant pass to Mickael Pietrus that was deflected far into the backcourt. Chasing was Jason Williams, who loped after the ball, either unaware of or undeterred by Rajon Rondo's pursuit. Williams bent down to pick up the ball, Rondo dove. The ball went to the effort, and Rondo made the legal play of standing with the ball before dribbling in for a layup.
It was a play that NBA players just don't typically make, and it sunk the Magic, who were never closer than 15 the rest of the way.
It was also the sort of play Rondo has been making throughout the playoffs.
"I told him, that was probably the play of the playoffs to me," Kevin Garnett said. "Pure hustle, pure basketball, pure "I want it more than you".
Beyond Rondo, who very well might be the player of the 2010 postseason, the thrashing was just another example of the Celtics putting their opponents on their heels from the word "Go", and those opponents never, ever, looking like themselves.
Boston cleared its way to a 2-0 series lead on the road against a Orlando that had won 14 straight until this series. The Celtics held the Magic to 39 percent shooting.
Paul Pierce drew 28 points, Rajon Rondo had a terrific 25 and the Boston Celtics gain its lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 95-92 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.
On the other hand, Dwight Howard produced 30 points while Vince Carter and J.J. Redick scored 16 apiece for the Orlando Magic, who turned over an 11-point deficit to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter. But Boston didn’t let it go for the home takers.
Game 3 is Saturday night and will be in Boston.
Here’s some highlights of the Boston-Orlando game 2.
