Avery Bradley saved the Celtics from a 4th-quarter disaster against the Magic
After putting up 34 points in the second quarter and 35 in the third, the Celtics held a 91-78 advantage over the Magic heading into the final period Monday. A Kelly Olynyk three-pointer made the score 94-80 with 10:48 remaining, but then the C's offense went cold.
Frigid, actually.
Boston didn't score for the next four minutes and 18 seconds and an 8-0 run by Orlando cut the deficit to just six points. It was an Avery Bradley top-of-the-key jumper that stopped the bleeding and put the C's back on top by eight.
Two minutes later, the Magic got within four at 98-94. Again it was Bradley who fought back the tide, hitting this running hook in the lane with 2:06 to play:
Orlando didn't go away, and trimmed the lead to five (101-96) with 1:32 left on the clock. For a third time Bradley kept the visitors at bay, once again draining a huge jumper from the top of the key. The C's shooting guard later knocked down two free throws to ice the game in the final seconds.
Bradley played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter, scoring half of the Celtics' 16 total points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 at the foul line. He also dished out two assists and grabbed four rebounds in the frame on his way to a season-high nine boards for the game.
In all, Bradley logged 37 minutes (after going 39 the night before) and scored 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens on Avery Bradley: it's hard to play 37 minutes on a back to back. But we needed him tonight.— Scott Souza (@Scott_Souza) March 22, 2016
You can say that again, Brad.
Follow Mark Vandeusen on Twitter @LucidSportsFan