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Magic, Celtics prepare for showdown

Jan 22, 2009 - 11:19 AM Boston (35-9) at Orlando (33-8) 8:00 p.m. EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- There is a clear line between the three best teams in the Eastern Conference and everybody else. The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic are both above that line.

The Celtics will be looking to post their seventh consecutive win when they face the Magic on Thursday.

Boston has gotten back to playing suffocating defense, allowing an average of just over 85 points of the last four games. The Celtics rank second in the NBA in scoring defense, yielding 91.3 points per game.

They also have not hesitated to put their foot down early of late, outscoring their opponents by a combined 118-63 over the last four first quarters and cruising to victories.

Boston grabbed a 29-10 lead after one against the Miami Heat on Wednesday and ended up with a 98-83 victory. Ray Allen led the way with 27 points and Eddie House added 25 off the bench. Allen and House combined to shoot 12-of-17 from beyond the arc.

The Magic may have just enough offense to overcome the Celtics' defense.

Orlando has won seven in a row, scoring at least 105 points in each and topping out at 139 at Sacramento on January 13.

This will be the second meeting of the season between the teams, with the Celtics taking the first, 107-88, on December 1. Paul Pierce led the way with 24 points while Rashard Lewis scored 30 for the Magic.