Magic Batter the Celts to Force Game 6 Friday at the Garden

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The Orlando Magic are heading is back to

Boston, and maybe halfway to history.

Taking another step toward overcoming an improbable 3-0 series

deficit, Dwight Howard had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the

Magic to a 113-92 victory over the Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern

Conference finals.

A series that looked like a sweep a few days ago now has the

Celtics taking a slim 3-2 lead into a pressure-packed Game 6 in

Boston on Friday night. The Celtics are facing the possibility of

playing it without Kendrick Perkins after their starting center

picked up his seventh technical foul of the playoffs. That would

mean a mandatory suspension unless it is overturned.

A potential Game 7 would be in Orlando.

No NBA team has won a series after losing the first three games.

The Magic broke out of their series-long shooting slump, making

13-of-25 3-pointers.

Jameer Nelson scored 24 points, and J.J. Redick had 14 to help

the Magic to a frenetic pace that the Celtics couldn't sustain.

Howard added five blocks as Orlando built an early 14-point lead

that was never seriously challenged.

Late in the third quarter, Boston forward Glen Davis was knocked

out, then needed referee Joey Crawford to keep him from tumbling to

the court. It was ruled Davis suffered a concussion.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)