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  Tuesday, Mar. 28 7:30pm ET
Orlando 122, Boston 87
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ Bo Outlaw had 10 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and Orlando outscored Boston 40-11 in the third quarter in beating the Celtics 122-87 for its fifth consecutive victory.

The victory moved Orlando within 1 1/2 games of Detroit for the seventh playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics, who led by as many as 13 points in the first half, have lost five in a row.

Ron Mercer scored 23 points and reserve Chucky Atkins scored 21 as Orlando shot 55.3 percent. Ben Wallace added 13 points and nine rebounds as every Magic player who dressed scored at least two points.

Boston made 37 percent of its shots and only one starter, Vitaly Potapenko with 10 points, managed to score in double figures. Starters Antoine Walker (five points) and Paul Pierce (eight) were a combined 4-for-24 from the field. Reserve Dana Barros led Boston with 19 points.

The Celtics started the second half with Barros making two free throws following a second technical foul on Darrell Armstrong that caused his ejection.

Boston missed its first 11 shots while Orlando used a 19-0 run to pull ahead 69-54. Danny Fortson gave Boston its first field goal with 6:45 left in the quarter to make it 69-56.

Orlando ended the quarter on a 21-7 run to lead 90-63.

Mercer and Atkins keyed Orlando's third-quarter surge with 13 and 12 points. The Magic was 16-of-24 from the floor in the quarter to Boston's 3-for-23.

Barros' running jumper with seven-tenths of a second remaining gave Boston a 52-50 lead at halftime.

Boston held a 13-point lead at the 7:27 mark of the second quarter but the Magic went on a 20-4 run to lead 50-47 after Armstrong hit a 3-pointer and a running jumper on consecutive possessions.

Notes: Orlando has won 13 of its last 14 at home. ... The Magic (36-36) are at .500 for the first time since Jan. 2.

 


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RECAPS
Atlanta 116
Denver 111

Toronto 99
Cleveland 96

Miami 81
Phoenix 78

New Jersey 111
Indiana 106

Orlando 122
Boston 87

Philadelphia 102
Minnesota 100

Sacramento 103
New York 95

Houston 121
Golden State 86

Dallas 112
LA Clippers 102

San Antonio 89
Portland 85