Boston bullied and bruised its way to a 2-0 series lead on the road against a Magic team that had won 14 straight until this series. The Celtics held the Magic to 39 percent shooting.

Dwight Howard had 30 points, and Vince Carter and J.J. Redick scored 16 apiece for the Magic, who overcame an 11-point deficit to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter. But they couldn't hold it.

Jameer Nelson's desperation 3-point attempt missed at the buzzer.

Game 3 is Saturday night in Boston.

“Our fans won't let us relax,” Pierce said. “We're going to try and close it out in four games.” The Celtics buckled down just enough to hold on late in this one.

Ahead 11 points to start the fourth quarter, that almost wasn't enough. The Magic, just as they did in Game 1, found their rhythm late.

They went on a 13-4 run to trim Boston's lead to 85-83 with about six minutes left. Carter's jumper with 4:05 remaining gave Orlando a 90-89 lead with 3:35 remaining, and then the Celtics summoned their championship form again.

Kevin Garnett and Rondo made consecutive jump shots, and after Nelson made a layup, Pierce answered with two free throws that put Boston ahead by three.

Carter missed two free throws with 31.9 seconds left that cost Orlando dearly. It must have felt all too familiar to Magic fans who watched Howard's damaging misses at the stripe in Game 4 of the NBA finals last year and Nick Anderson's four bricks in Game 1 of the 1995 finals.

“Just think our mindset was to be ready for the type of intensity they would bring after losing at home,” Pierce said. “We know the Magic are a talented team and we won't take these two wins for granted.”
 

Meantime, the Washington Wizards drew the first pick in next month's NBA Draft, winning Tuesday's lottery despite having the fifth best chance at securing the top choice, while NBA-worst New Jersey Nets had to settle for third.

Washington, 26-56 in the regular season, cashed in on their 10.3 percent chance among the 14 clubs eligible for the weighted lottery for clubs that failed to make the playoffs.

The second choice went to the Philadelphia 76ers (27-55), who had only a 5.3 percent representation in the drawing.

The Nets, who stumbled to a 12-70 regular season record, had a 25 percent chance of snaring the number one overall pick, widely expected to be Kentucky point guard John Hall.

Ohio State forward Evan Turner is also considered a possible top selection by draft experts.

"This is a great night for our franchise and particularly for our fans," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement.

"They have shown great support and passion during what has been a difficult stretch over the last two seasons, but they can celebrate tonight knowing that we've taken a big step toward building the team that they deserve." Fourth pick in the June 24 draft will go to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors following.

Representing the Wizards was Irene Pollin, widow of Abe Pollin, the franchise patriarch who died in November.

Pollin, who will be turning the franchise over to new owner Ted Leonsis after her recent sale of the team, wore her late husband's team championship ring from their 1978 NBA triumph for good luck at the lottery drawing.

"I'm so glad I have this ring on because my husband, I think, is really here," she told a TV interviewer. "His spirit is here."