Magic 100, Celtics 95
Nikola Vucevic and Kyle O'Quinn combined for 36 points and 25 rebounds as host Orlando survived a furious fourth-quarter comeback by Boston to snap a four-game losing streak.
Tobias Harris scored 19 points for the Magic, who led 87-60 early in the fourth before managing only three points over the next 8 1/2 minutes, during which Brandan Wright fueled the Celtics' comeback in his second game since joining Boston in a trade from Dallas. Kelly Olynyk's 3-pointer with 2:33 left drew the Celtics within 90-87, but Harris answered with a bucket and O'Quinn made 4-of-4 free throws to restore a more comfortable margin.
Tyler Zeller scored 22 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Celtics, while Avery Bradley had 20 points behind 4-for-6 shooting from outside the arc. Jameer Nelson, who spent his first 10 NBA seasons with the Magic, contributed nine points, 11 assists and four steals in his first game in Orlando as a visiting player.
Vucevic scored 14 points in the first half as the Magic led 53-30 at intermission. The Celtics scored only nine points in the first quarter on 2-of-22 shooting and, while they heated up a bit in the second quarter, they still allowed Orlando to score on its final four possessions - including a 3-pointer and a jumper by Harris.
Even in the third quarter, it seemed as if every time Boston scored, Orlando answered with a bucket - oftentimes behind rookie Elfrid Payton, who had 10 of his 12 points in the period. Trailing by 27 early in the fourth, the Celtics scored 12 straight points to begin their comeback and a 3-pointer by Orlando's Channing Frye was answered by 15 straight points by Boston before the Magic held on.
GAME NOTEBOOK: O'Quinn is 4-of-8 from 3-point range in the last three games after making a total of two 3s in the first nine games this month. ... Olynyk contributed 14 points off the Celtics' bench, while Brandon Bass had 11 points in a reserve role. ... Four of Orlando's five starters shot at least 50 percent from the field, with the exception of SG Victor Oladipo, who struggled to eight points on 2-of-15 shooting.