How we see it goin' down: Celtics vs Magic

How we see it goin’ down: Celtics vs Magic

Alan Draper

Sports Editor

April 18 2012 2 min read

Tip: 8:00 PM Court: TD Garden Watch it: CSN, ESPN Hear it: WEEI

Referees: James Capers, Derrick Collins and Josh Tiven

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The Matchup


Record: 36-26 (1st Atlantic, 4th East)	Record: 36-25 (2nd Southeast, 5th East)
At home: 21-9	On road: 16-13
Streak: Lost 1	Streak: Won 2
Leaders	Leaders
Buckets: Pierce (19.5 ppg)	Buckets: Dwight Howard (20.6 ppg)
Boards: Garnett (8.3 rpg)	Boards: Howard (14.5 rpg)
Dimes: Rondo (11.6 apg)	Dimes: Jameer Nelson (5.6 apg)
For the Stat Geeks:	For the Stat Geeks:
Offensive Rating: 101.2 (27th NBA)	Offensive Rating: 105.1 (15th NBA)
Defensive Rating: 98.7 (1st NBA)	Defensive Rating: 103.3 (12th NBA)
Pace: 90.3 (21st NBA)	Pace: 89.2 (27th NBA)

Last time

The Celtics lead the season series, 2-0. The C's held Orlando to a franchise low 56 points in a 31-point blowout on Jan. 23. Three days later the Celtics rallied from a 27-point deficit to beat the Magic 91-83 in Orlando. Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen did not play in either game.

This time

Get it to: Kevin Garnett

Who guards KG – Ryan Anderson or Glen Davis? I like the Ticket in both match-ups.

Gotta stop: Orlando's three-point shooting

If the Celtics defend the perimeter the same way they did in New York, the Magic will burn them. Orlando made 11-of-18 3s in Monday's win over Philly. The Magic are 23-3 when shooting at least 40% from 3. Watch out for Ryan Anderson, JJ Redick, Jason Richardson and Jameer Nelson. The good news? With Dwight Howard out, there's no Magic worthy of a double-team.

The Wild Card: Injuries/Rest

Mickael Pietrus (knee), Ray Allen (ankle) are nursing injuries. Paul Pierce (thigh, toe) and Rajon Rondo (back, wrist) are also banged up. Who will go and who will get rest? The decision rests with Doc Rivers. Orlando is missing Dwight Howard. The Celtics are on the second night of a back-to-back, while the Magic did not play Tuesday.