Final
Harris helps Magic edge Celtics
Jan 20, 2014 - 4:30 AMVideo
With the game tied 91 apiece and under 30 seconds left, Jameer Nelson missed a 3-pointer, but Kris Humphries was called for a loose ball foul on Harris, who calmly sank two from the charity stripe for the game's final points.
Arron Afflalo had 20 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Harris scored 18 with seven boards for the Magic, who picked up their first win of 2014.
"You take our last three close games and you see the progression," said Orlando head coach Jacque Vaughn. "We executed, got to the foul line."
Glen Davis added 17 points and seven rebounds, with Nelson netting 16 points and handing out 10 assists in the victory.
Jeff Green poured in 22 points, while Avery Bradley and Humphries scored 18 apiece for Boston, which has lost 11 of its last 12.
"This is not fun for me at all," said Boston coach Brad Stevens. "That's the bottom line. I'd like to see us get better and maybe win some of these, but we haven't. We need to move on and try to do it the next time."
Rajon Rondo came off a screen and knocked down a 16-footer to give the Celtics an 89-87 lead with 1:16 to play, but Afflalo drove to the rim for a layup at the other end to knot the game back up.
Boston came up empty its next trip downcourt as Rondo missed an 18-footer with 48.9 seconds left. Nelson was fouled with 35.3 ticks left and netted the pair from the stripe.
Following the free throws Gerald Wallace was brought in to inbound the ball, which he tossed cross-court to the low block where he connected with Green, who turned, made the layup and drew the foul.
Green missed the free throw and as the players scrambled to gain possession, Victor Oladipo appeared to be tied up with Bradley for a jump ball. However, the referees determined Oladipo had control of the ball and awarded the Magic a timeout.
Nelson then missed from behind the arc and the rebound bounced toward Harris, who was fouled by Humphries before sealing the outcome from the line.
Neither team led by more than three points throughout the final 12 minutes as they battled down to the wire.
Boston started the first 3 1/2 minutes of the game with a 12-4 run and led 20-9 with 4:39 left in the quarter. Orlando trailed, 26-18, at the end of the first after shooting 7-for-21 from the field.
The Magic scored the first seven points to start a back-and-forth second quarter. There were seven lead changes and four ties before Oladipo made a pair from the line, which started an 11-5 run to close out the half for the Magic.
Orlando led 53-46 at the break after it outscored the Celtics 35-20 in the second quarter.
The second half began with a decreased tempo compared to the first 24 minutes. After exchanging a couple baskets, the Celtics rattled off 13 straight to pull ahead, 61-57, with 3:53 left in the third.
Orlando answered with the next six points and held a two-point advantage, 66-64, heading into the final quarter.
Game Notes
The Celtics have lost nine straight on the road ... Boston will face the Heat in Miami on Tuesday ... The Magic will travel to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on Tuesday ... There were 19 lead changes and 17 ties during the contest.
Jan 19 8:39 PM- BOSTON: 64
ORLANDO: 66
End of 3rd
Jan 19 7:52 PM - BOSTON: 46
ORLANDO: 53
Halftime
Jan 19 7:08 PM - BOSTON: 26
ORLANDO: 18
End of 1st
Jan 19 6:34 PM - BOSTON: 2
ORLANDO: 0
1st Quarter - 11:42
Jan 19 6:11 PM
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