Game 5: Bostons Celtics 92, Orlando Magic 88

This script sure sounds familiar.

14-point lead in the fourth quarter. Gut-wrenching loss at the end.

It is no secret Orlando has not been able to hold on to leads this postseason. This team simply does not have the killer instinct to put games away. And with a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Magic gave up 15 straight points, including a 3-pointer from Ray Allen that gave the Celtics a one point lead.

A questionable (I will get to the referees later) call and an offensive rebound later, the Magic found themselves down three and parading to the free throw line as Boston held on for a 92-88 win to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

The Magic have played well with their backs to the wall. Well, their backs are against the wall now.

Once again, for three and a half quarter, Orlando was simply brilliant. Hedo Turkoglu, Rafer Alston and Rashard Lewis all attacked the basket with fierceness and either scored or made good passes out to the perimeter. The defense did a good job rotating and doubling Paul Pierce and kept him from dumping it down to Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis.

But 36 minutes is not 48 minutes, and Boston showed its resiliency and started to rally behind Stephon Marbury. Marbury had eight points in the final frame and set up the run that ultimately would force Orlando out of the lead.

Doubt must have been creeping into the Magic's mind late in the fourth quarter. I know I thought about the blown leads in the postseason as they held the lead in the fourth quarter, just hoping they would stay aggressive and hold on.

The aggression did not stop, per se. Alston continued to attack the basket as did Turkoglu and Lewis. The shot quality did not go down. But Boston definitely turned up the defense and when push came to shove, the Magic could not find their star -- Dwight Howard.

Howard finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds on five of 10 shooting. He did not really touch the ball -- Turkoglu forced a pass into Howard late in the game, that led to a wide open 3-pointer for Alston, which he promptly rushed and missed -- late in the game. The Magic have to rely on their star in this situation. He has proven he can hit big free throws late in games. Orlando must rely on him, even on his off nights.

The Celtics put on offensive display in the fourth quarter. They scored 33 in the final frame, outscoring the Magic by 12 points, and shot well over 50 percent after struggling for most of the night.

Orlando just does not seem to have the will to put teams away. What that means is unclear. But the heart and desire needed to close out these playoff games is not there.

Yes, there were two egregious calls in this game -- both of which I expect and demand an explanation from the NBA for.

Rajon Rondo's desperation 3-pointer with two minutes left came nowhere near touching the rim, but the 24-second shot clock violation was waved off and Boston got another chance to take the lead.

And a Ray Allen 3-pointer in the second quarter was not reviewed despite TNT replays clearly showing his foot on the line. That changes the complete complexion of the game in the fourth quarter with Orlando down two instead of three.

But neither of them should have mattered.

A 14-point lead midway through the fourth quarter in the Playoffs should be insurmountable. Orlando is really missing its closer and its calming presence in Jameer Nelson. I do not think he allows this team to relax in these situations. And I think the Magic are heading home up 3-2 with Nelson in the lineup.

Now, the Magic are picking up the pieces and trying to figure out how to make things right with their backs to the wall.