Magic 96, Celtics 93 | Turkoglu's shot proves magical

ORLANDO, Fla. — Even Stan Van Gundy wasn't sure what Hedo Turkoglu was doing.

An off-balance three-pointer with time running out — when all the Magic needed to break a 93-all tie against the Kevin Garnett-less Boston Celtics was a two?

"I think he wanted to set it up so he could hit a miracle and make his final bid for the All-Star Game," the Magic coach jokingly said. "If we win by seven, no drama. It doesn't make as good of a case."

Turkoglu is having the best season of his career, but he's a longshot for the Feb. 17 game in New Orleans. He tried a few tough shots down the stretch, as Orlando let go of a double-digit lead, but made the one that counted for a 96-93 win.

"I didn't really want to settle on a jumper," Turkoglu said. "I just tried to go to the hole and take a foul, but they had good defense and forced me to take a tough shot. I'm just glad it was right there today."

Orlando recorded its second home win this season over Boston, which played for the first time without Garnett, who has an abdominal strain.

"Obviously Kevin is the heart and soul of what we do," Celtics guard Ray Allen said. "So it was tough not seeing him out there."

Dwight Howard had 18 points and 16 rebounds for Orlando, and Rashard Lewis scored 15 points.

Orlando blew a 16-point, second-half lead with a lousy fourth quarter. The Celtics trailed 75-65 to open the period, then held Orlando scoreless nearly four minutes, and without a field goal for more than five.

But the Celtics slipped into their own fourth-quarter drought over 2:47 and the Magic pulled ahead by eight on two buckets from Lewis, one a three-pointer, and an authoritative dunk from Howard.

Allen made a three-pointer for Boston to tie it at 93 with 14 seconds left, and Orlando took its time on the last possession. Carlos Arroyo dribbled up the court and held the ball, the fans on their feet screaming. Turkoglu curled around and pulled up an ugly shot, but it went in.

"It was a good shot," Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. "I thought I played pretty good defense — cut off his initial drive, he turned around and shot a three-pointer from two or three feet off the line and sunk the shot."

Pierce led Boston with 24 points and nine rebounds, Allen scored 17 points and Rajon Rondo had 15 points and five assists. Five of Boston's eight losses have come this month.