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May 30, 2010

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Home » Sports » Basketball

Celtics weave Magic to reach NBA finals

Source: Agencies | May 30, 2010, Sunday | Print Edition

THE Boston Celtics got a big boost from diminutive back-up Nate Robinson and booked their place in the National Basketball Association finals by beating the Orlando Magic 96-84 on Friday to win the Eastern Conference championship series 4-2.

The Celtics, NBA champions two years ago, wrapped up the series at the third attempt after winning the first three games, and will now face either Los Angeles or Phoenix in the best-of-seven final.

The seldom-used Robinson took over for injured backcourt ace Rajon Rondo in the second quarter and electrified the TD Garden crowd by scoring 13 points to help the Celtics break the game open in the second quarter.

"I kept telling Nate that at some point he was going to win a game for us," Boston coach Doc Rivers told reporters about the 1.75-meter guard who was obtained in a mid-season trade with the New York Knicks.

"Tonight he was terrific. It's a team effort. Every night somebody has to do something, and tonight it was Nate."

Sparked by the spirited play of lightning-quick point guard Rondo, the Celtics took a 30-19 lead on the back of a 13-3 run at the end of the first quarter.

Rondo was hurt after crashing to the floor following a hard foul by Jason Williams, but Robinson, who scored six points in the first five games in total, took over in the second quarter and whipped the home crowd into a frenzy, waving his arms to command more noise.

Boston built a 21-point lead during the second quarter at 46-25, though a late Magic spurt keyed by Vince Carter closed the gap to 55-42 at halftime.

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen helped pad the lead to as much as 24 points in the third quarter and Boston coasted home.

"We got back to moving the ball, playing good defense and not allowing them to shoot three-point shots," Pierce said.

The Magic, who had been deadly from long range in beating the Celtics back in Orlando, were held to 6-for-22 shooting from three-point range.

Pierce led Boston with 31 points and 13 rebounds, while Dwight Howard scored 28 points with 12 boards for the Magic. Howard, the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, thought the Celtics were hungrier.

"It's about who wants it the most," Howard said. "Those guys played like they wanted to win a championship the whole series. That's why they're in the position they are in now."

The Celtics, whose 17 NBA titles lead all franchises, topped arch-rivals Lakers in their last trip to the finals.

Defending champion Los Angeles leads the Suns 3-2, with Game 6 in Phoenix today.

The NBA finals will begin in either Los Angeles or Phoenix on Thursday.
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