BOSTON — For the second straight game, Doc Rivers made a difficult decision.
He decided to sit one of his hottest players.
With 4:55 remaining in last night's game, and the Celtics trailing 85-75, the Celtics coach took out Stephon Marbury.
Marbury, Brian Scalabrine and Eddie House were replaced in the game by starters Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins. The tough call was Marbury, who hit 5 of 6 shots, including a 3-pointer en route to 12 points in just over six minutes of action.
It was a little late, but it was finally the Marbury many people expected.
"It was a gamble because Stephon was playing so well," said Rivers. "This is tough for him. He's never been taken out to put starters in (before coming here). That's always been him going in. I'm happy for him because he played a great half the other night. I didn't play him in the second half ... He just keeps hanging in there, keeps working every day."
Marbury was visibly upset after being removed. But after about 10 seconds on the bench, he came to his senses.
"This a championship team. That's why I came here," said Marbury. "I was just happy I could contribute. Would I like to say in? What do you think? But on this team you do what's best for team. That's why I love this place. It's all about winning."
Marbury said he has been waiting for moments like last night, when he has the green light to make things happen when it is needed most.
"It felt good because one, we needed it, and the timing was right," said Marbury. "It was right for me to go in and do what I did for us to win the basketball game. When I got into the game my mindset was to ... try to create something where we can change the flow of the basketball game."
Marbury was asked if last night was officially his "coming out" party as a Celtic.
"I wouldn't consider it being a monkey off my back because I'm playing basketball this year for me, so that was enough," he said. "I know that I'm blessed so I don't look at it that way at all. I'm just happy that I have the opportunity to come out and help the Celtics win another championship."
Pierce: We won't play for a Game 7
Celtic Paul Pierce said the plan isn't to relax in Orlando tomorrow night and take care of business on Sunday here in Boston.
"We're not a team that gives games away and say, 'Hey, hopefully we win it at home,'" said Pierce. "No, we want to try to get the job done on the road and hey, Cleveland is sitting (and) waiting. So if we can get the job done and get a couple of days of practice in, that will be fantastic."
Defense beats Magic
The Orlando Magic, noted as one of the best shooting teams in the league, have not scored more than 25 points in the last seven quarters of this series.
Worse, they were really cold when it mattered most last night. Holding an 85-75 lead with 5:55 remaining, the Magic went 5:48 without scoring a point.
Some key numbers
The Celtics bench outscored the Magic bench, 26-20 last night.
There were only two lead changes during the game after the Celtics scored the first basket of the game (a Glen Davis jumper). The Magic took the lead at 16-14 on a Rashard Lewis layup and led all of the way until Ray Allen's 3-pointer, with 1:20 remaining in the game, giving the Celtics an 86-85 lead.
Rajon Rondo had his worst statistical game of the playoffs, scoring only six points with five assists and nine rebounds. He made only 3 of 12 shots, but none of the makes were from outside of 10 feet.
Shooting guard was a problem for the Magic as J.J. Redick and Courtney Lee combined to make only 2 of 9 field goals for six points.
They said it
—"What did I tell Scal? I told Scal 'Shoot the bleeping ball! That's why you're in there,'" said Celtics coach Doc Rivers to forward Brian Scalabrine after he didn't take two open 3-pointers in the first quarter.
—"I thought we played really well for 44 minutes ... and we just quit playing. We quit playing the game that got us here. We looked like we were trying to run the clock out, walking the ball up the floor, playing half-court," said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy.
—"I just have to be more aggressive and demand the ball," said Magic center Dwight Howard about his lack of touches late in the game.
—"We just stopped. They're an experienced team. They've been here before. They know how to make decisions, especially in that kind of game," said Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu about the Celtics penchant for playing well late in games.
—"I can't speak for the Magic, I just knew we got hungrier down the stretch," said Celtics swingman Paul Pierce.
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