Magic at Celtics
The Orlando Magic are looking like the cream of the crop in a crowded race for the final three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and are on the cusp of snapping a six-year postseason drought. The Magic need just one win to clinch a playoff berth heading into Sunday's visit to the Boston Celtics, who also have plenty to play for in their home finale.
Friday's 149-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks at home was the eighth victory in the last 10 games for Orlando, which moved into sixth place in the East entering Saturday, a half-game up on Brooklyn and Detroit and 1 1/2 ahead of ninth-place Miami. "We know we are right there and it's just about closing it out. We can't stop right now," guard Terrence Ross told reporters after the rout of the Hawks closed out the Magic's home slate. "It would be a shame to stop playing the way we are right at the end when it matters, so we've got to keep this going." The Celtics also need just one win to secure the No. 4 seed in the East and homecourt advantage in the first round. They've won five of their last six and entered Saturday 1 1/2 games behind third-place Philadelphia with two to play.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS Boston
ABOUT THE MAGIC (40-40): Orlando is healthy coming down the stretch and gave most of its regulars an easy night against the Hawks after racing to a 42-18 advantage through the first quarter and coasting to a ninth straight home win. Ross, Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier each scored 25 points and nobody played more than Vucevic (30 minutes) in the team's best offensive showing since Feb. 20, 1995. "We won that game in the first quarter," Fournier told reporters. "We came out with so much energy and just kept it going."
ABOUT THE CELTICS (48-32): Boston has endured an up-and-down regular season after being tabbed by many as the favorite in the East, but it may be starting to put the pieces together at the right time. "Much more purpose from the group," center Al Horford, one of six players to score in double figures in Friday's 117-97 win at Indiana, told reporters. "The focus level has been much better, and that's encouraging to see." At the forefront of the surge is the play of backup forward Gordon Hayward, who hit all nine of his shots en route to 21 points against the Pacers and is averaging 16.4 points on 58.8 percent shooting over his last seven games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Orlando finishes its regular season Wednesday at Charlotte, while Boston plays its finale Tuesday at Washington.
2. The Magic took the first two meetings by a total of five points.
3. Fournier is averaging 21.7 points on 60 percent from the field in three games this month.