Boston Celtics Reeling After Latest Loss To Orlando Magic

Maybe the Orlando Magic are inspired by the Phoenix Suns.

One day after the Suns tied up their conference series with the Los Angeles Lakers, the Magic denied the Celtics another opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals with a 113-92 victory in Orlando. The win slices the Celtics’ series lead to 3-2 and sets up an intriguing game 6 in Boston on Friday night. If the Magic win that one, game 7 will be in Orlando on Sunday.

Boston was hoping to return home and rest up for their Finals opponent, but they’ll be trying to close out Orlando for the third time. The loss was a costly one for Boston: Not only did they lose the game, but they might have lost some key players as well. Starter Kendrick Perkins picked up his seventh technical foul of the playoffs, which triggers an automatic suspension. The team also lost Glen "Big Baby" Davis to a concussion in the game after taking an elbow to the face by Dwight Howard. His status for game 6 is unknown.

The Magic, all but out of the playoffs after a lackluster game 3 in Boston, dug deep to take game 4 in overtime on Monday. But game 5 was more impressive, and the resulting 21-point win provides needed momentum for the team as they try to force a deciding seventh game back in Orlando.

While the Magic have resurrected their Finals hopes with two wins, Boston has already proven they can close out teams with talent in the playoffs. They dispatched Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat in five games, then sent LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers packing in six. They also dominated the Magic in game 3 in Boston. But that was with Perkins and Davis, and that was also fresh off two straight wins in Orlando. Now they’ll return after two straight losses, and they’ll face a Magic team that looks confident and motivated. And if they don’t close them out on Friday, the Celtics face the ugly prospect of returning to Orlando after three straight losses. Whatever players are available to play on Friday will have to be ready to face the surging Magic. For basketball fans, game 6 is shaping up to be another interesting chapter in an unusual series.