Celtics at Magic
The Boston Celtics frittered away their hopes for home-court advantage in the playoffs with a late-season swoon in which they have dropped 12 of their last 18 games. The Celtics lead Milwaukee by three games with three to play entering Saturday's game at Orlando and can wrap up the No. 7 seed in the East with either one win or one loss by the Bucks. Boston wants to avoid a first-round matchup with Miami, which drubbed the Celtics on Friday.
Orlando did Boston a favor by knocking off Milwaukee on Wednesday to snap a five-game losing streak. It was only the second victory in 15 games for the Magic, who are tied with Charlotte for the fewest home wins (12) in the league. The Celtics have won seven consecutive meetings in the series, including a 116-110 overtime victory in Orlando on Nov. 25.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet New England (Boston), Fox Sports Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE CELTICS (40-39): With Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce held out of the lineup with ankle injuries, Boston was no match for the Heat. Jeff Green picked up the offensive slack with a game-high 25 points after managing a total of 19 in his previous two games. Green also provided a huge scare to the Celtics when he landed hard on his left elbow and had to leave the game in the fourth quarter. "Any time you hit a nerve, it feels numb down the whole arm," Green said. "And it wouldn’t come back as fast I wanted to, because we were still playing. But I’m fine."
ABOUT THE MAGIC (20-59): A pair of second-year players sparkled in Orlando's win over Milwaukee. Center Nikola Vucevic had 30 points and 20 rebounds - his second straight 20-20 game - and midseason acquisition Tobias Harris had 30 points and 19 rebounds. It was the sixth straight double-double for Vucevic, who is averaging 18.7 points and 16.3 rebounds during that span. Harris has registered three consecutive doubles and is averaging 20.8 points and 10.6 boards in his last nine games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pierce and Garnett are expected back in the lineup for Saturday's game.
2. Vucevic and Harris became the first teammates to post 30 points and 19 rebounds in the same game since New York's Willis Reed and Walt Bellamy in 1967.
3. Magic PG Jameer Nelson (ankle) has missed six straight games.