Celtics seize seventh playoff seed

ORLANDO, Florida (AFP) –

Jeff Green and Courtney Lee of the Boston Celtics look on from the bench in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks on March 31, 2013 at Madison Square Garden. Lee scored 20 points Saturday as the Boston Celtics clinched the seventh playoff seed in the Eastern Conference standings by routing the Orlando Magic 120-88

Courtney Lee scored 20 points as the Boston Celtics clinched the seventh playoff seed in the Eastern Conference standings by routing the Orlando Magic 120-88.

Lee was one of seven Boston players to reach double-figures in scoring. Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford had 17 and 16 points, respectively.

“I like our team, I like our team a lot,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “The key for us is to get through these two games, have some great practices and get ready for the playoffs. That’s what you play the whole season for.”

Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley also scored 14 points apiece for Boston who were coming off a 109-101 loss to Miami on Friday.

Garnett finished with nine rebounds and Paul Pierce scored 12 points for the Celtics, who beat Orlando for the eighth consecutive time.

Boston has just two games remaining in the regular season as they will face Indiana at home on Tuesday before finishing the regular season in Toronto on Wednesday.

Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Nik Vucevic recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds for Orlando, who have lost six of their last seven games.

“Very disappointed,” said Harris. “Played a great team and just didn’t live up to the opportunity.”

Both teams shot well in the third quarter, especially the Magic who scored 27 points, with Harris and Vucevic combining to record all but one.

Boston had 28 points in the quarter on 64.7 percent shooting from the field.

The Celtics led by as many as 27 points late in the third to take a 85-64 advantage into the final quarter.