Boston Celtics, Nba Playoffs | featured news

On another difficult night for the Boston starters, the bench came through, and the Celtics bullied their way to a 96-89 victory to tie the N.B.A. finals at 2-2.

The team that muddled through its last 54 regular-season games with a 27-27 record is headed to the NBA finals after winning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals over the Orlando Magic 96-84 Friday night.

Taking another step toward overcoming an improbable 3-0 series deficit, Dwight Howard had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Magic to a 113-92 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Jameer Nelson made back-to-back 3-pointers in overtime, Dwight Howard had 32 points and 16 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics 96-92 on Monday night to avoid a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference finals.

Pierce helped the Celtics open a 16-point, first-quarter lead, then watched as Rajon Rondo and Glen "Big Baby" Davis helped Boston coast to a 94-71 victory over the Orlando Magic and take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

Too slow? Too old? Try two wins from the NBA finals. Indeed, the Boston Celtics look like they saved their best this season for when it mattered most. "I know," Boston's Paul Pierce said. "It's starting to look that way." Pierce scored 28 points, Rajon Rondo had 25 and the revived Celtics again avoided a late collapse to take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 95-92 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Ray Allen scored 25 points, Paul Pierce had 22 and the Boston Celtics used smothering defense to beat the Magic 92-88 on Sunday in the Eastern Conference finals opener.

TV News: Game is second most-watched in net's history -- ESPN's telecast of the Cleveland Cavaliers-Boston Celtics game Thursday night was the second most-watched college or pro basketball game in the net's history as 8.9 million viewers tuned in.

The Boston Celtics sent LeBron James and the Cavaliers back to Cleveland to admire all of their regular-season accomplishments and ponder their future....

LeBron James isn't listening to the nationwide criticism of his listless Game 5 performance against Boston.