Celtics win 9th straight

The Celtics were thinking in playoff terms last night against the Orlando Magic. And the game reflected postseason intensity, the Celtics taking a 107-88 victory with the teams combining for eight technical fouls.

"It was like a statement game for us," said Paul Pierce, who scored 17 of his 24 points in the third quarter. "They won the season series [last year], so we wanted to make sure, if it comes down to the end, where we have the advantage."

This was a continuation of a season-long setting of standards, the Celtics (17-2) extending their winning streak to nine going into tomorrow's game against Indiana.

Pierce took up where he left off two nights earlier in Charlotte, where he had a strong fourth quarter in an 89-84 win. He posted his highest point total since mid-November, and nearly outscored the Magic in a 29-19 third quarter. He had 17 points in the period and missed a 3-pointer before being replaced with 27 seconds remaining.

The combination of Pierce's offense and team defense - the Magic scored just once from the field over a 5:14 period spanning both halves - gave the Celtics an 11-1 start to the second half and the momentum to coast in the final quarter. With Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, and Pierce on the bench, the Celtics extended their advantage to 89-73 on Leon Powe's dunk, which turned out to be the clinching points, with 8:26 to go.