ORLANDO, (Reuters) – The Boston Celtics continued their vintage playoff form, squeezing Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic in a steely 92-88 win in the first game of the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.
Displaying the same defensive intensity that earned them the NBA title in 2008, the Celtics frustrated the Magic early and survived some nervous moments late to take the 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series and inflict the first defeat in the post-season on the Magic.
Ray Allen scored a game-high 25 points and made two free throws with six seconds left to preserve the win after Boston’s 20-point lead in the second half was trimmed to just two in the final seconds.
“As a veteran team everyone was waiting for the playoffs and when we got here we hit the ground running,” Allen told reporters, three days after his team completed an upset victory over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.
The Magic trailed for the entire game and were stymied as the Celtics sent a barrage of big men at Howard, delivering hard fouls and forcing him into difficult shots.
“When I get into a wrestling match with them I think it plays to their advantage,” said Howard, who was held to 13 points on 3-for-10 shooting while committing seven turnovers.
“Now I have to go back and regroup and look at film on better ways to get into a position to score.”
Vince Carter scored 23 points while Jameer Nelson had 20 points for Orlando, who climbed back into the game with a 10-0 run that pulled the team within 88-85 before the Celtics clinched the victory with free throws.
