Celtics-Magic, Game 5: Hey, The Magic Are Back In This Thing

Over at SB Nation’s Orlando Magic blog, Orlando Pinstriped Post, they’re relishing in one of the better games of the postseason. From Ben Q. Rock:

The Orlando Magic once again rode Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard to victory, staving off elimination in the Eastern Conference Finals with an impressive 113-92 defeat of the Boston Celtics in a bizarre, physical game with plenty of ancillary storylines. Nelson scored a game-high 24 points on 88.8% True Shooting and dished 5 assists to lead Orlando’s offense, while Dwight Howard contributed 8 defensive rebounds, 2 steals, and 5 blocked shots to lead the way for Orlando defensively; he also scored 21 points and grabbed 2 offensive boards.

Some bizarre events depleted Boston’s bench: starting center Kendrick Perkins, arguably the best “Howard-stopper” in the league, earned an ejection late in the first half for two iffy technical fouls and faces a suspension for Game 6 unless the league rescinds one or both of the technicals; Glen Davis, a key reserve big man, caught an elbow from Howard trying to defend him and became concussed; and backup swingman Marquis Daniels had to leave after bumping his head into Magic center Marcin Gortat’s chest and picking up a concussion of his own.

And though backup center Rasheed Wallace, who led Boston with 21 points on 97.6% True Shooting, left via a disqualification for 6 personal fouls, he had to retreat to the locker room for treatment of back spasms afterward. These occurrences threaten to overshadow what stands as one of Orlando’s best playoff performances in the Stan Van Gundy era, as it scored a monstrous 113 points on just 85 possessions thanks to a 13-of-25 showing from three-point range. Improbably, given where this series stood just 3 days ago, the Magic can knot the whole thing up at 3 games apiece on Friday night at Boston’s TD Garden.

To read more on the Orlando Magic, check out Orlando Pinstriped Post.