Marquis Daniels Hurt: Rondo's 26 Lifts Celtics To Victory, Allen Three Shy

The Boston Celtics (38-12) clicked on all cylinders in the final three quarters, knocking off the Orlando Magic (32-20) in convincing fashion 91-80 in TD Garden Sunday afternoon.

Rajon Rondo led the way with a team-high and season-high 26 points to go along with seven assists and a steal on nine of 15 from the field, shooting seven of nine from the line in the process.

The first 13 minutes between two of the Eastern Conference's elite teams was a defensive battle. The quarter ended with the Magic up 22-17, forcing the Celtics to 28 percent shooting.

The defense was right on cue for the men in blue, with Boston only able to get three assists to go along with five turnovers. The league's leading assist leader Rondo was without one.

A minute into the second quarter the TD Garden was left silent, as Marquis Daniels collided into the chest of Gilbert Arenas and was taken out on a stretcher by team doctors. With 11 minutes left in the quarter, it was if the flat-looking Celtics slowly found an answer to the Magic's defensive scheme.

The Celtics outscored the Magic 29-19 after Daniels' fall. The scoring load was taken care of by Rondo, with 13 points on five of nine shooting.

Dwight Howard came to play for Orlando in the first half, scoring a game-high 22 points on nine of 14 shooting, adding six rebounds and two steals in his 20 minutes of play. The rest of the Magic team was held to nine of 36 from the field, a major credit to the Celtics' strong team defense in the half.

In the third the Celtics broke loose, outscoring the Magic 24-12 and forcing a timeout with 3:34 remaining in the quarter. During the stretch the team shot a stellar 90 percent from the floor, led by 11 points from Rondo on three of three shooting.

The second half was a story of defense, with the Celtics holding Orlando to 37 points.

After scoring at will in the first half, Howard was nowhere to be found. His only field goal of the half came with 1:05 remaining on an open dunk in garbage time.

Holding off the Magic in an evenly played fourth quarter, the Celtics take the season series 2-1. The Celtics have now won seven of their last eight games at home.

After the game, Daniels was officially diagnosed with a bruised spinal cord. The injury has him missing an estimated one month of action.

The Celtics look to win their fourth straight game on the road, taking their streak to Charlotte Monday night. Orlando will look to rebound at home against Blake Griffin and the Clippers Tuesday.

GAME NOTES

• Ray Allen's two three-point shots places him just three threes shy of Reggie Miller's all-time record.
  
  
• Dwight Howard finished with a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds.
  
  
• The Magic were held to 12.5 percent from beyond the arch, hitting three of 24 attempted.
  
  
• Kevin Garnett added 16 points and nine rebounds in the win.