Pierce, Rondo lead Celtics to a win for the aged

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Too slow? Too old?

Try two wins from the NBA finals.

Indeed, the Boston Celtics look like they saved their best this season for when it mattered most.

"I know," Boston's Paul Pierce said. "It's starting to look that way."

Pierce scored 28 points, Rajon Rondo had 25 and the revived Celtics again avoided a late collapse to take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 95-92 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

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.

After being hampered by injuries for much of the season, often showing their age, the Celtics are now just two wins away from their second finals appearance in three seasons.

"I think we are becoming the team that started the season," Rivers said. "The team that started the season was pretty good."

Maybe even good enough to take down the defending conference champion Magic.

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 airballed at the buzzer, sending fans to the exits in silence.

"I won't stop believing," Howard said. "And I won't let my teammates stop believing."

Game 3 is Saturday at Boston.

"Our fans won't let us relax," Pierce said. "We're going to try and close it out in four games."