The Boston Celtics put the Orlando Magic in peril with a 95-92 win capturing the second straight game on their opponents' home floor in Florida to take a tight grip on the National Basketball Association's Eastern Conference final series.
Paul Pierce scored 22 of his team-high 28 points in the first half and the Celtics withstood a late Magic run to seize a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which moves to Boston on Sunday.
The Celtics have now won five straight playoff games overall as they try to return to their championship caliber form of 2008 when they won the NBA title.
The Magic were held to just 39 percent shooting and now face a big uphill battle to reach their second straight final.
