Celtics tricked by Magic

ORLANDO, Fla. -- If you like surprises, then Boston is a team for you. If not, then you can empathize with Doc Rivers as he watched the Celtics play surprisingly selfish basketball in the first half with a noticeable lack of effort on the defensive end. In the second half, the Celtics brought a better mind-set to the floor and better play followed, but they could not fully recover from all that went awry before halftime.

Leading from wire to wire, the Orlando Magic defeated Boston, 87-79, last night at Amway Arena and stopped any talk of progress from Rivers. Instead, the coach could not contain his disappointment.

"The second-half team was more like the Celtics team and the first-half team was the worst effort I've seen from us this entire year," said Rivers. "I told our guys that I've never been more disappointed in a team in one half than our first half [last night]. I thought we showed up to put on a show. We thought we'd play up-tempo, every man for themselves, no passing, no defense, just a run-and-gun game. The Magic just came and kicked our butts in the first half. In the second half, we just competed. That was the only change."

Run and gun will work against Memphis, the worst team in the NBA, but not against Orlando, a team trying to climb back atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Trailing the Magic, 54-38, at halftime, the Celtics left missed shots and turnovers (13 of 17) in their wake. Offensively, it was hard to believe Boston was the same team that scored a first-quarter season-high 34 points (shooting 67 percent) against Memphis Friday night. The Celtics fell behind the Magic, 29-17, after the first quarter last night and shot 33 percent.

Orlando distanced itself from Boston with a 15-5 run that started midway through the second quarter. Just as the Celtics gained some momentum and closed within 7 points, Magic coach Brian Hill put his starting lineup, minus Dwight Howard (18 points, 12 rebounds), on the floor. It was an effective combination with a pair of free throws from Grant Hill (returning after missing three games with left foot soreness to lead the Magic with 21 points) sparking the run and a dunk by former Celtic Tony Battie (11 points, 10 rebounds) capping it.

The Battie basket pushed Orlando ahead, 54-37, with 1:03 remaining in the second quarter. The Magic managed to outscore the Celtics, 25-21 in the quarter, despite shooting 22 percent.

"We dug ourselves too big a hole in the beginning of the game, especially on the road," said Wally Szczerbiak (15 points). "You can't give up 10 points before you blink your eyes. It's not easy to fight back. If we came out and played like we did in the third quarter and the whole second half, we could have won this game."

By committing just one turnover during the third, the Celtics helped their cause. The Celtics opened the quarter with a quick 6-1 run and closed within 11 points. They produced a 5-0 spurt and trailed, 60-55, with 3:18 left in the quarter.

But Boston still had trouble generating sustained offensive momentum against one of the best defenses in the NBA. For the remainder of the third, the Celtics scored 1 more point (Delonte West free throw) as the Magic closed the quarter with a 6-1 run to take a 66-56 lead.

When the Celtics put themselves within a couple of possessions of the lead during the fourth quarter, the Magic found a way to stop them. Sometimes it was a big basket. Sometimes it was a big block. Sometimes the Celtics hurt themselves with turnovers and fouls.

With a chance to cut the deficit to 4 points, Brian Scalabrine passed up a 3-pointer and drove to the basket for a higher percentage shot, but on his way up, the ball was knocked from his hands with 9:33 remaining. On the other side, it wasn't long before the Magic stretched their lead to 75-62 with a 9-2 run.

Trips to the line for West and Tony Allen (21 points) brought Boston within 76-69, but Orlando responded with another run. Even though the Celtics became feistier and more aggressive down the stretch, it was a case of too little too late.

Shira Springer can be reached at springer@globe.com.