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No illusion: Magic score 56 in blowout loss to Celtics

Jan 24, 2012 - 4:51 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics kicked their cold streak against winning teams by locking down on defense and beating one that has never played so bad.

Paul Pierce had 19 points and seven assists Monday night and the Celtics raced past the Magic, 87-56, in a game that set or matched franchise scoring records for both teams.

Boston matched a franchise record for fewest points allowed, while the Magic set a team record for fewest points scored.

Prior to the game, the Celtics had been 0-6 this season against teams with a winning record. They held the Magic to 24.6 percent shooting and scored 24 points off 25 turnovers.

"I mean, defensively that was as good as you can get," said Boston head coach Doc Rivers.

Meanwhile, Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy struggled to find answers for his team's performance.

"I can't explain it. I can't explain why," he said. "They took us out of everything we did. I'm not saying we don't deserve blame, give us a lot of blame, but also make sure you give them a lot of credit.

"I mean that intensity and that defense was absolutely phenomenal. To take everybody out -- there was nothing we could create; we couldn't get anything out of anything we did."

Brandon Bass also had 19 points in 34 minutes off the bench and Kevin Garnett scored 14 with 10 rebounds as Boston won for just the second time in its last seven games at home.

Dwight Howard had 18 points and 14 rebounds, but no other Orlando player scored in double digits. The Magic had a four-game road winning streak snapped in their first loss away from Orlando since January 2 at Detroit.

Boston's next game is Thursday at Orlando, but it's not a home-and-home series because the Magic play at Indiana on Tuesday, where they will presumably be looking to shake of the memory of this one.

Boston had no trouble despite missing Rajon Rondo (sprained wrist) and Ray Allen (jammed ankle).

How bad were the Magic? They made just five shots in the second half after trailing 46-36 at the break, going 2-for-11 in the third quarter and 3-for-16 in the fourth.

"We ain't going to get much better than this defensively," Rivers said, "and I think it's a good blueprint for [us]."

In the third, Hedo Turkoglu knocked down a three-pointer to cut Orlando's deficit to 11. Later, Chris Duhon also made a three, but the Magic were down by 18.

Von Wafer had two field goals in the fourth quarter and Larry Hughes added a bucket. Howard scored all four of his second half points at the foul line.

The Celtics, who have won three of their last four overall on the heels of a five-game losing streak, led by as many as 33 points.

Howard and Boston center Jermaine O'Neal received technical fouls for a brief altercation in the third quarter after they collided in the lane. O'Neal wagged his finger in Howard's face and Howard responded with a light shove.

"We just allowed them to get into our heads," said Howard. "They won the mental battle."

Game Notes

Orlando was coming off a 2-1 homestand that ended with a 92-80 win over the Lakers on Friday.