Celtics Vs. Magic, NBA Christmas Day: Paul Pierce Leads Boston To 46-36 Halftime Lead

When the Boston Celtics allowed the Orlando Magic to score the first 13 games of their Christmas Day showdown, they needed to find somebody to pull them back. Paul Pierce stepped up and got it done, changing the entire complexion of the game.

Pierce scored 16 points in the first half, and the Celtics have a 46-36 lead at halftime. He scored 11 points in the first quarter, and the Celtics’ defense took over in the second, holding the Magic to just 17 second-quarter points. The Magic are now shooting under 30 percent for the game and are just 4-15 from three-point range. After scoring 13 points in the first four and a half minutes of the game, the Magic have scored just 23 points in the last 19 and a half minutes.

Kevin Garnett added 10 points, and Glen Davis chipped in with 10 of his own for the Celtics off the bench. Brandon Bass leads the Magic with eight points, but has already taken nine shots. Hedo Turkoglu also has eight points, but all of those came in the first three minutes of the game. Dwight Howard has yet to hit a field goal and has just one point in the game, which cannot happen.