No Magic This Time for Celtics : NBA playoffs: Orlando scores last eight points to overcome Boston, 82-77, and take a 2-1 series lead.

The Orlando Magic overcame the determined Boston Celtics, a raucous crowd and their reputation for losing big games.

The young Magic came through down the stretch Wednesday night, scoring the last eight points to beat Boston 82-77. Leading 2-1, they can close out the best-of-5 series and slam the doors on the old Boston Garden with a Game 4 victory Friday night.

Shaquille O’Neal had 20 points and a season-high 21 rebounds in front of a full house in the building that the Celtics will leave for the new FleetCenter next season.

Orlando was swept in the first round of the playoffs last season. It had the best record in the Eastern Conference this season, but split the first two games at home with Boston.

On Wednesday it trailed 77-74 with less than two minutes remaining. Then it rallied to break a seven-game road losing streak and win with its lowest point total of the season.

Nick Anderson, who led the Magic with 24 points, tied the game 77-77 with a 3-pointer with 1:10 left. It was the Magic’s first basket since a dunk by O’Neal with 7:13 to go.

Anfernee Hardaway, who had 16 points, then soared to swat away a layup attempt by Dominique Wilkins and the Magic retrieved the ball. Dennis Scott missed from the left corner on the next possession, but O’Neal rammed home the rebound for a 79-77 lead with 28 seconds remaining.

Pervis Ellison missed a short baseline jumper and O’Neal pulled down his last rebound of the game.

Anderson made a free throw with 15 seconds to play. In their final chance to come back, the Celtics missed three consecutive shots -- a 3-pointer by Dee Brown, a layup by Wilkins after an offensive rebound and a desperation 3-point heave by Brown with six seconds remaining.

Anderson finished the scoring with two foul shots with 1.4 seconds to go.

Boston was led by Wilkins and Brown with 16 points each and Dino Radja had 15.

The Celtics had rebounded from the worst loss in their 49-year history, 124-77 in Game 1, to win 99-92 Sunday in Orlando, where the Magic had lost two games all season.

They headed back home knowing an energized crowd would be waiting to cheer them on and try to unnerve Orlando.

Whenever O’Neal went to the foul line, fans behind the basket would twirl white towels to distract him. A 58 percent foul shooter in the regular season, he was 6-for-14 Wednesday. But his brilliance off the boards made up for that.

Wilkins’ two free throws with 4:31 left had given Boston a 74-73 lead, its first since 24-23 one minute into the second quarter.

Led by an unusually aggressive Wilkins, the Celtics led 24-19 after the first period despite hitting just 28 percent of their shots. Boston continually went inside and O’Neal picked up his third foul with 31 seconds left in the period.

He sat out the rest of the first half and the Magic did just fine without him. They hit their first five shots of the second quarter, all on layups or from just in front of the foul line.

They built their biggest lead of the half, 42-33 with 3:31 left. At that point, Orlando was 11-for-15 from the field in the second quarter, while Boston was 3-for-16.

Orlando led 45-41 at halftime and opened the second half with a 14-8 run. Then the Celtics charged back with an 11-2 spurt that cut the lead to 61-60.