Celtics pound Magic

There’s not a magic act in the world that could slow down this Celtics run.

Some around the league are saying the C’s look better this season than last, and it’s hard to argue with that, as they won their ninth consecutive game last night with a resounding 107-88 victory against the red-hot Magic at the Garden.

Ray Allen (21 points) torched the Magic (14-5) in the first quarter, and the Celtics (17-2) built a double-digit lead in just five minutes. J.J. Redick, who was assigned to guard Allen, pulled a disappearing act on the defensive end, chasing aimlessly after Allen as the Celtics’ guard scored nine points in the first and the C’s jumped out to a 26-13 advantage.

But after the Celtics grabbed a 37-22 lead, the Magic had a trick up their sleeve for Boston’s second unit, which was relegated to stagehand duty during Orlando’s comeback attempt. The Magic responded with a 15-3 run over a span of 5:50, when the C’s missed 6-of-7 shots, turned the ball over three times and saw Sam Cassell get ejected while arguing with the officials from the bench.

After the Magic got within 48-46 at halftime, Paul Pierce (24 points) and the Celtics put on a show in the third. Pierce scored 17 points in the quarter, including nine during an 11-1 run that started the half and put the C’s back in control with a 59-47 lead. A quick spurt got the Magic within seven, but Pierce scored four straight and Allen knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Celtics ahead, 71-57.

Doc Rivers looked reluctant to go to his bench in the third quarter, when the starters scored all 29 points, but his reserves were huge in the fourth. They combined to score 14 of the C’s first 16 points in the quarter, and Eddie House’s 3-pointer in transition gave them a 92-75 lead and sent the Magic packing.