ORLANDO -- Dwight Howard just took matters into his own hands Thursday night.He complained about not getting the ball enough in a Game 5 loss in Boston – even threw his coach under the bus in the process – so he went and got the ball himself in Game 6.
Howard got the shots he wanted – scored 23 points -- but it still was his 22 rebounds that made the difference. He had an incredible 10 offensive rebounds, dominating around the basket at both ends in a 83-75 victory to even this best-of-seven series.
As poorly as the Magic shot – they made only 37 percent from the field and hit only 17 of 31 free throws – there were plenty of loose balls to chase. It seemed like got every one he needed.
"I can't worry about touches anymore,'' Howard said. "I just got myself open. I went and got the rebounds. That's how you win games. That's how you get the ball.''
After trailing through most of the first three period, the Magic took control in the fourth when both teams saw their offense bogged down. It was a hard-fought game, but it was far from pretty.
When the Celtics played the Bulls in the first round, it was a series that no one wanted to end because it was so well played. At times Thursday, both teams played this one like they didn't want to continue.
Neither team played well. The Magic shot poorly, shot free throws even worse, and were out-rebounded by six, but they still won going away. The Celtics looked like they ran out of gas, scoring only 29 points after halftime.
Rafer Alston, who had been blamed for some of the Magic's post-game struggles, hit two big shots late in the game, including a 3-pointer that gave the Magic a 75-73 lead they never lost.
Hedo Turkoglu, who made only three of 13 shots, hit a 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining for the 81-75 lead that followed a pair of missed free throws by Paul Pierce.
"Dwight was incredible,'' said Boston coach Doc Rivers. "We didn't let him get the ball. He went and got it. He was terrific on the glass. He's a monster down there. We tried to hold him off, but we couldn't.''
Howard's game plan was clear early. He scored the Magic's first eight points, getting two dunks, a layup and a pair of free throws. No one else on the Magic scored until Alston hit a 3-pointer more than six minutes into the game.
Howard had as many shots in the first half (10) as he had in the entire Game 5.
The Magic got nothing early from the perimeter. Turkoglu and J.J. Redick combined to hit just one of 10 shots in the first half. Redick mercifully was yanked for good in the third quarter after missing all seven of his shots.
For much of the night, the Celtics relied on their less-heralded players, getting good games from Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and even Brian Scalabrine. Down the stretch, though, the Celtics had nothing left when the Magic pulled away.
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NBA commissioner David Stern speaks to the media before the Houston Rockets play the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of their NBA Western Conference playoffs basketball game Thursday, May 14, 2009 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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ORLANDO - MAY 14: Eddie House #50 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Courtney Lee #11 of the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eddie House;Courtney Lee
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ORLANDO - MAY 14: Stephon Marbury #8 of the Boston Celtics drives against the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Stephon Marbury
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ORLANDO - MAY 14: Courtney Lee #11 of the Orlando Magic rebounds against the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Courtney Lee
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ORLANDO - MAY 14: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Rashard Lewis #9 of the Orlando Magic in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 14, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paul Pierce;Rashard Lewis
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Orlando Magic's Anthony Johnson (R) shoots as Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce looks on in the third quarter of Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 14, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Orlando Magic's defender Mickael Pietrus (R) reaches in on Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce in the third quarter of Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 14, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (L) shoots as Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins defends in the third quarter of Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 14, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (R) shoots as Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins defends in the third quarter of Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 14, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (R) shoots as Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins defends in the third quarter of Game 6 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Orlando, Florida May 14, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Kolczynski (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-14-2009 @ 11:17PM
Nate said...
I didn't want to talk smack on the posts concerning Howard's comments from last game, but i wanted to proven right first. Howard is completely right, and so was Shaq. When Dwight gets touches, he dominates games with 20-20 performances and they don't lose; Shaq was also right about Gundy being panicky at crucial times and not getting much done down the stretch when his team needs to hold down a lead or fight through one. Game 7 is a shoe-in for Orlando if Davis is a no-show again, and Pierce chokes like he did today...
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5-15-2009 @ 3:23AM
GILES ! said...
I am sure Pierce and Big GentleMan Davis will come to play in Boston in game 7, and Pierce at least will probably play well. I hope Turkoglu also has a bounce back game. I don`t think Redick will get the chance. I think Lee and Pietrus will probably split most of the wing guard minutes. I hope Gortat will get some minutes at power forward. Beating the Celtics in Boston, even without Garnett, will be no easy task. And yes, Dwight, don`t just whine about not getting the ball enough, get it off the offensive board, like you did tonight. Think of any missed Magic shot almost as if it is an assist pass to you, even sarcasticly tell your teammates "Nice pass" when you get the offensive rebound, but save blasting your coach for the locker room, if anywhere, not in the press, he`ll have off games same as you will, but your off games didn`t stop you being defensive player of the year, and the top all pro center, and those are team awards, not just individual awards, whether it feels like it always or not.
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5-15-2009 @ 2:42PM
kgr1996 said...
lol, the biggest thing the magic have to do is get pierce into foul trouble.. easy, by jumping into him as they take a shot, just like he does more than 50% of the time. i hate it when they do that. the magic don't cause overall, they are the better team.. either way, the nba needs to change that rule to make it an offensive foul. then peirce won't be the so called best player in the world.. lol.. or by his standards.
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5-16-2009 @ 8:24AM
caninescreed said...
It's kind of hard to score when you are being called for fouls every minute. 18 PF in the second half on the Celtics. It is hard to even know what to say about that sort of discrepancy. that is more than the Magic were called the entire game. Taking into consideration that Bavetta was officiating, a man who was under federal investigation for fixing games in order to extend series. Tough to swallow, but at least the Celtics players are not whining about it. Wow, Dwight Howard 22 rebounds, bigger wow Rajon Rondo 16. One is a center, one is a PG!!!!! One is 7' one is 6'!!!
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5-16-2009 @ 8:28AM
caninescreed said...
And kgr, that type of officiating discrepancy will not happen in game 7. That is one night only, nba wants a game 7, bring in the old dog to call the game, gimme. Not taking anything away from the Magic they played very good defense, but so did bosotn and I thought the game looked like it was going to be a good competitive game going into the second half. And then the Magic added three more men to their side. Rafer actually gave one of the refs a kiss, doesn't that really just say it all?
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