But the tone of this game was set in the opening minutes. The Celtics were out of synch with Stephon Marbury making his first start at point guard, and the team seemed to let down emotionally following Friday night's win over Cleveland.
Coach Doc Rivers said he went against his instincts in deciding to start Marbury instead of Eddie House. And some of the youngest Celtics, expected to play a role in relief while starters recover, did not get into the game. J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker were DNPs, and Gabe Pruitt played only 2:13. The Celtics concluded the contest with eight eligible players, Leon Powe fouling out in the final seconds.
Rondo could return for Wednesday's visit to Miami, but Tony Allen, Davis (who departed on crutches), Garnett, and Brian Scalabrine (concussion) will remain out.
"We missed everybody who was not out there," Paul Pierce said. "It just seems like every game bodies are going down. Rondo gets us off to a good start, [but] that's no excuse. We didn't really defend at a high level. One thing that is a mainstay of this team is our defense, and we didn't really show that from the beginning."
Ray Allen scored 32 points (plus a season-high 9 rebounds), 17 in the last quarter, but he missed a late 3-pointer from the corner in front of the Magic bench with a chance to tie the score.
Allen scored all the points on a 9-0 run over a 3:04 span, the Celtics making five successive defensive stops, his foul shot cutting the deficit to 82-79 with 1:22 remaining. Then, after a Rafer Alston misfire, Allen hurried a try that went long.
"When I came around the corner Dwight [Howard] was right there, and at the last second I shot it a little higher than I wanted and it hit the back of the rim," Allen said.
Orlando, led by Howard (18 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks), failed to convert from the field in the final 4:06.
