05/13/2009 - 14:15
Paul, Celtics Surge Ahead
by
Amy Azzi
With the Eastern Conference semifinals tied 2-2, Paul knew that Game 5 was the moment of truth for the Boston Celtics.
They passed with flying colors on Tuesday night, surging to a 92-88 victory over the Orlando Magic on the back of fourth quarter comeback -- a comeback fueled by the play of No. 34.
The Captain finished with nearly a triple-double, scoring 19 points, grabbing nine boards and dishing out eight dimes. He shot 54 percent from the floor in over 40 minutes, and went a perfect 7-for-7 from the line.
The Truth blows past Orlando's Dwight Howard (Getty Images). |
And with all of that, Paul is keeping focused on the task at hand -- not stopping to celebrate what is just a stepping stone win on the way to a larger goal. As hed told FoxSports:
"I know we won a lot of Game 7s, but anything can happen and our mindset is to go down to Orlando and just get the win by any means necessary. We're not a team that gives games away and (says) hopefully we win it at home."
UPHILL BATTLE
The Celtics trailed for most of the game, keeping it close in the first quarter but losing ground shortly after. They had to climb back from a 77-63 deficit with as little as 8:49 left in the contest.
In true defending champion fashion, Paul and the Celts fought back. No. 34’s layup in the midst of a pair of Glen “Big Baby” Davis jumpers and a reverse by Kendrick Perkins cut the deficit to only two points.
Paul's clutch foul with seven seconds left ensured that the Magic couldn’t take the lead with a 3-pointer. The Celtics coasted through the next five seconds of the game, sealing the win.
Celebrating the win, and looking for one more (Getty Images). |
No. 34 attributed the stirring win to his hard-working teammates and their insatiable hunger for another championship.
As he told ESPN:
"We kept thinking it's going to turn around at some point in the game. We've done it before, we have a battle-tested team. It looked bleak for a while, but everybody has a part to play, a role to play, and tonight it worked out. We're a team that's never going to give in."
He continued with the Associated Press:
“I can’t speak on the Magic, I just knew we got hungrier down the stretch. I know what we do. We’re a team that got a lot hungrier and we got a lot more competitive down the stretch, and I think that was the difference.’’
"It's all about never giving in and having the heart of a champion.”
NEXT UP
Paul and the Celtics will travel to sunny Orlando to finish up the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 6 is on Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Sunday and can be seen on TNT.
RELATED STORIES
Magic at Celtics Boxscore (NBA.com, May 13, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090512/ORLBOS/boxscore.html
Magic at Celtics Recap (NBA.com, May 13, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090512/ORLBOS/recap.html
Celtics escape Magic for game 5 win (FoxSports.com, May 13, 2009)
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9546118/Celtics-escape-against-Magic-...
Celtics rally for 92-88 Game 5 victory over Magic (AP, May 13, 2009)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jK9itfR-Sp31WAhEk7SNN7...
Marybury sets stage for comeback (ESPN.com, May 13, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=sher...
Amazing finish gives Celtics a 3-2 series lead over the Magic (PatriotLedger.com,
May 13, 2009)
http://www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1892610090/Amazing-finish-gives-Cel...
