ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots to lift the Magic to a 117-96 victory over the Celtics on Friday night and a 2-1 series lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal.
“Just the whole team stepped up the defensive intensity,” said Howard, the NBA’s defensive player of the year. “It starts with me. I have to do that every night if we want to be successful.”
Rashard Lewis had 28 points, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 for Orlando, which played without starting point guard Rafer Alston. He was suspended by the NBA for slapping Eddie House in the back of the head in Game 2.
Paul Pierce broke out of his series slump to score 27 points, and Rajon Rondo added 15 for the Celtics, who trimmed a 20-point deficit to seven. But when it appeared they would complete the comeback, Kendrick Perkins lost his cool.
The center was called for a flagrant one foul with 10:15 remaining for an elbow on Mickael Pietrus. Replays showed Perkins’ elbow hit Pietrus in the chin while the two were battling for position away from the ball. Pietrus made the free throws, and the Magic built another 20-point lead that put the game out of reach.
“Our defense was awful. They made every shot,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “I thought they were the aggressors, and we were the retaliators all night.”
