NBA Game Summary - Orlando at Boston
Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Rajon Rondo totaled 13 points and 15 assists as the Boston Celtics overcame a slow start to beat the Orlando Magic 109-92 Wednesday.
The Celtics shot better than 70 percent from the floor in the first quarter, but seven turnovers helped Orlando stay in the game early.
Brandon Bass scored 18 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter to help Boston pull away for its second straight win. Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger both chipped in 16 points.
Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 18 points and 13 rebounds as they lost for the fourth time in five games. Tobias Harris added 17 points for Orlando.
The Magic went ahead 61-60 three minutes into the second half with a pair of Channing Frye free throws, but that would be their last lead of the game. The teams exchanged buckets for the remainder of the quarter, but Boston built a 78-73 lead after three periods with eight points from Green.
"They were scoring at will on us," said Harris. "You're not going to beat teams if you don't play defense."
A strong final quarter on both ends of the floor helped Boston pull away. It shot 68.4 percent from the field and held Orlando to 6-of-15 shooting while scoring eight points off six Magic turnovers.
Bass scored Boston's last four points of the game to cap his big quarter.
"We've done a pretty good job this month of playing in the fourth quarter," said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. "I thought we played well after the middle of the second quarter on."
The Celtics shot 70.6 from the field in the opening period, led by Sullinger's nine-point performance. However, they only led 29-28 after one after committing seven turnovers that led to nine Magic points. Boston closed out the opening period with six straight points to retake the lead.
A 14-2 Magic run midway through the second quarter erased a two-point deficit and created a 47-37 Orlando lead. Frye and Maurice Harkless each hit long distance shots, and Kyle O'Quinn had two dunks around a Vucevic fadeaway shot to cap the run.
In the final three minutes of the half, Boston's shooting helped it retake the lead at halftime. With three long distance shots, two of which came from Green, Boston was able to take a 56-53 lead into the break.