Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Live Streaming

Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Live | Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic | Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Streaming | Boston vs Orlando NBA Live Stream | Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic Live Webcast

8:30 pm EDT Tue May 18, 2010

The trick shots that had become a ritual after Orlando Magic practices were gone Monday. So were the usual jokes and playful banter. They were small but telling signs of just how much has changed in the Eastern Conference finals after the Boston Celtics took home-court advantage, shattering the Magic’s playoff invincibility. Orlando will now have to overcome a loss for the first time in more than six weeks when the Magic face the resurgent Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night. There’s plenty on the agenda. The Celtics swarmed Dwight Howard from the opening tip, with four different big men—Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett—all taking turns. Boston bullied its way past the Magic in punishing fashion. Howard was held to 13 points and 12 rebounds on 3-for-10 shooting. But he also had a game-high seven turnovers, some coming at the worst of times. Boston’s scrappy play in the paint, elbows and forearms constantly jabbing, frustrated Howard again.

The ripple effect allowed the Celtics to close out fast on the Magic’s potent 3-point shooters, who went cold—especially early when Boston went ahead by 20—and never allowed to get in rhythm. Orlando shot 41 percent from the field and 22 percent from beyond the arc. The Magic, who swept Atlanta and Charlotte in the first two rounds, haven’t lost consecutive home games all season. They’re banking on that streak continuing heading into Game 2, or their hopes of redeeming last year’s NBA finals loss to the Lakers could be crushed. Streaky for parts of the season, the Celtics have only now started to find the defensive prowess that carried them to an NBA title two years ago. They spent the season, hobbled by injuries, dazzling one minute and baffling the next. Boston coach Doc Rivers cautioned his team not to get overly excited Monday, knowing such success hasn’t lasted long. The Celtics haven’t won more than four straight—their current streak—since they won 11 in a row before Christmas.