ORLANDO, Fla. — Not ready to go home just yet, the only place the Orlando Magic are headed is back to Boston.

Halfway to history.

Taking another step toward overcoming an improbable 3-0 series deficit, Dwight Howard had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Magic to a 113-92 victory over the Celtics last night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

"I don't know if you can say you have momentum when you're down 3-2 going into their place," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I still look at it like we're climbing a huge mountain here. But we are playing better."

Much better.

A series that looked like a sweep a few days ago now has the Celtics taking a slim lead into a pressure-packed Game 6 in Boston tomorrow night. The Celtics are facing the possibility of playing it without Kendrick Perkins after their starting center picked up his seventh technical foul of the playoffs, a mandatory suspension unless it is overturned.

A potential Game 7 would be in Orlando.

No NBA team has won a series after losing the first three games.

The Magic, seemingly lifeless after a blowout defeat in Game 3, suddenly have hope to be the first. They broke out of their series-long shooting slump, making 13 of 25 3-pointers.

"I just feel that if we keep believing in each other and trusting one another and playing as hard as we can, anything's possible," Howard said.

Jameer Nelson scored 24 points, and J.J. Redick had 14 to help the Magic to a frenetic pace that the Celtics couldn't sustain. Howard added five blocks as Orlando built an early 14-point lead that was never seriously challenged.

Rasheed Wallace had 21 points, and Rajon Rondo scored 19 for a Boston team that once seemed on its way to another NBA finals.

Now? The Celtics are stunned and dazed — and Boston fans who just watched their NHL team blow a 3-0 lead are getting uneasy.

Howard's elbow inadvertently came down on Glen "Big Baby" Davis' face near the basket in the third quarter, giving the Celtics forward a concussion. Davis tried to get up as play continued on the other end, wobbling his way to midcourt, almost falling flat as referee Joey Crawford kept him from tumbling to the hardwood.

Davis did not return. Reserve Marquis Daniels also was hit with a similar inadvertent elbow from Howard, leaving him dizzy, and Wallace "tweaked" his back.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Davis "blacked out" on the court, and the training staff will examine the forward today.

"I don't know what kind of tests they're going to do with Baby. He's a little delirious anyway," Rivers said, chuckling.

BOSTON 27 22 26 17— 92

ORLANDO 31 26 27 29—113

BOSTON–Pierce 3-8 10-10 18, Garnett 5-14 0-0 10, Perkins 1-1 0-0 2, Rondo 7-15 5-11 19, R.Allen 3-11 2-3 9, Davis 2-4 0-0 4, Wallace 7-9 4-4 21, T.Allen 1-3 0-0 2, Finley 0-2 0-0 0, Daniels 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson 2-5 0-0 5, S.Williams 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 31-72 23-30 92.

ORLANDO–Barnes 3-6 0-0 9, Lewis 6-11 1-2 14, Howard 7-12 7-12 21, Nelson 6-10 8-8 24, Carter 3-10 1-1 8, Redick 3-6 6-7 14, Gortat 0-0 2-2 2, Bass 3-5 2-2 8, Pietrus 3-5 0-0 8, J.Williams 2-4 1-1 5. Totals 36-69 28-35 113.

3-Point Goals—Boston 7-16 (Wallace 3-5, Pierce 2-4, R.Allen 1-3, Robinson 1-4), Orlando 13-25 (Nelson 4-5, Barnes 3-4, Redick 2-3, Pietrus 2-4, Lewis 1-3, Carter 1-4, J.Williams 0-2). Fouled Out—Wallace. Rebounds—Boston 36 (Garnett 5), Orlando 52 (Howard 10). Assists—Boston 19 (R.Allen 7), Orlando 16 (Nelson, J.Williams 5). Total Fouls—Boston 30, Orlando 24. Technicals—Perkins 2, Rondo, Barnes, Gortat, Orlando defensive three second. Ejected—Perkins. A—17,461 (17,461).

PLAYOFF GLANCE

All Hawai'i times

CONFERENCE FINALS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston 3, Orlando 2

May 16: Boston 92, Orlando 88

May 18: Boston 95, Orlando 92

May 22: Boston 94, Orlando 71

May 24: Orlando 96, Boston 92, OT

May 26: Orlando 113, Boston 92

Today: Orlando at Boston, 2:30 p.m.

x-Sunday: Boston at Orlando, 2:30 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

L.A. Lakers 2, Phoenix 2

May 17: L.A. Lakers 128, Phoenix 107

May 19: L.A. Lakers 124, Phoenix 112

May 23: Phoenix 118, L.A. Lakers 109

May 25: Phoenix 115, L.A. Lakers 106

Today: Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 3 p.m.

Saturday: L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 2:30 p.m.

x-Monday: Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 3 p.m.

x-if necessary