- USF Takes Alabama To The Limit In 17-3 Loss
- USF, McClain Roll To First Win of the Season
- Bobby Bowden dies: Legendary coach built Florida State into college football powerhouse
- ECU hammers USF for first win of season
- Mike Brosseau’s HR off Aroldis Chapman Lifts Rays Past Yankees in ALDS Game 5
- Tom Brady Purchasing $7.5 Million Mansion
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Vita Vea has broken ankle, likely out for season
- Tampa Bay Lightning have placed Tyler Johnson on Waivers
- USF football excited to bring fans back to Raymond James Stadium this weekend
- Tampa Bay Lightning Win Stanley Cup
Turner turns it on in 4th, helps Celtics rally past Magic
- Updated: March 14, 2015
Boston coach Brad Stevens’ halftime tirade had a delayed reaction.
After a lackluster start to the second half, the Celtics overcame an 11-point deficit and beating the Orlando Magic 95-88 on Friday night.
Evan Turner scored 24 of his 30 points in the second half and his 16 points in the fourth quarter tied Orlando’s team total in the final period.
“I’ve never heard Brad really curse and he cursed us out pretty good,” Turner said. “We were messing up a little bit. We weren’t helping each other too much. Some of our plays were lackadaisical. He thought we were playing too cool.”
Phil Pressey had 10 points and 10 assists to help the Celtics win their third straight and fifth in six games. Boston also avoided a costly setback in its playoff hopes.
“I thought this was one of the best wins we’ve had and the reason is we didn’t have it,” Stevens said. “We didn’t have it and we had to figure it out. We had to find a way and that’s not easy.”
Kelly Olynyk added 13 points and Avery Bradley had 10 for the Celtics. They extended Orlando’s road losing streak to 10.
Elfrid Payton scored 20 points for Orlando, and Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Magic led by 11 in the third quarter, but couldn’t overcome woeful free-throw shooting and turnovers. Orlando was 5 of 14 from the foul line in the third quarter and 14 of 28 overall.
“It’s tough. We missed a lot of free throws and those are easy ones that we need to make,” Vucevic said. “For us to be a good team and win in this league, you’ve got to make free throws.”
Turner led Boston on a 12-2 run late in the fourth, scoring nine and giving the Celtics their first lead since the second quarter on a three-point play with 2:33 left. Turner lost control of the ball while driving the lane, but reached behind his back and grabbed it and hit a runner while drawing a foul.
The free throw put Boston up 85-83 and Turner added two more jumpers after Orlando briefly tied it.
The Magic had their chances, especially in the third quarter.
Tobias Harris hit a long jumper just before the buzzer to put the Magic up 50-40 at halftime. Orlando had several chances to pull away in the third but missed six straight foul shots, including three consecutive opportunities for a three-point play. Payton snapped the slide while going 1 for 3 after being fouled on a 3-pointer with 55 seconds left.
Boston failed to take advantage until the fourth, when Turner took over for Boston. Turner and Bradley hit back-to-back 3-pointers, then Turner added a jumper to tie it 79 with 5:22 left.
