A quick look at Friday’s NBA action:
Celtics 96 at Magic 117
Dwight Howard had 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to lift the Magic over Boston on Friday night.
Orlando now leads the Eastern Conference semifinal 2-1.
Rashard Lewis had 28 points, and Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 for the Magic, who played without starting point guard Rafer Alston.
He was suspended by the NBA for slapping Eddie House in the back of the head in Game 2.
Paul Pierce broke out of his series slump to score 27 points, and Rajon Rondo added 15 for the defending champion Celtics, who trimmed a 20-point deficit to seven before the Magic regained control.
Game 4 is Sunday in Orlando.
Lakers 108 at Rockets 94
Kobe Bryant scored 33 points and the Lakers took a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series with the Rockets.
Lamar Odom had 16 points and 13 rebounds and reserve point guard Jordan Farmar had 12 points and seven assists in place of the suspended Derek Fisher, who was ejected from Game 2 for a hard hit on Luis Scola when he set a pick.
Game 3 had no signs of the rough play that turned testy in Game 2 until the final minute, when Houston’s Ron Artest was ejected for a hard foul on Pau Gasol.
Artest was ejected from Game 2 for a verbal altercation with Bryant following Bryant’s elbow to Artest’s upper chest.
Artest had 25 points and Yao Ming added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, but he was bothered by a lower left leg injury in the final minutes and was limping as he left the court.
The Lakers snapped the Rockets’ nine-game home winning streak.
Game 4 is Sunday in Houston.