What a difference a couple of days can make.

After Orlando eeked out an overtime victory in Game 4 to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics, surely the veteran-laden squad was going to come out an take care of business tonight.

But the Magic rode their hot-shooting start to an impressive 113-92 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.  With this win, there are some new developments in the series:

 - With two consecutive wins, the Magic have now become the team with the momentum.  Most of their players have begun to play with the confidence that they displayed throughout the regular season, and in their first two playoff series.

 - The Magic played their game, and they played it well.  Orlando was able to get some good three-point looks and they knocked them down – hitting 13-25 (52%) from downtown.  They were able to spread the wealth, with Jameer Nelson, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick converting multiple treys.

- Dwight Howard controlled the paint on both ends of the floor.  With 21 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots, Howard put together his first set of good back-to-back performances in this series. 

 - Yes, there was a Rashard Lewis sighting.  He showed some aggression late in tonight’s game.  Lewis started swishing mid range jumpers in the fourth quarter, and ended with 14 points.   

- While Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard controlled the game’s tempo, the Magic received big contributions from J.J. Redick (14 points), Matt Barnes (three triples), Rashard Lewis (14 points).  Getting their teammates involved was critical, and was what they needed to do to stand a chance at winning the next game in the TD Garden.

Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard have stood tall in the face of possible playoff elimination.

The Celtics lost some key players in the midst of their loss.  Glen “Big Baby” Davis got caught by an inadvertent Dwight Howard elbow, and suffered a concussion.  Davis staying on the floor for a while – and when he attempted to get up and run up the court, he was stumbling and had to be held by referee Joe Crawford (to prevent him from falling).  If Crawford wouldn’t have executed his timely save, Florida would have probably experienced its first earthquake ever.

Reserve guard/forward Marquis Daniels entered the game briefly.  On a drive to the basket, he banged into a defender and also suffered a concussion.  He exited the game immediately after the play.  He plays so infrequently that he got hurt the first time he had the ball in his hands.  Just plain sad.

Rasheed Wallace, who played great for Boston with 21 points, looked to tweak his back late in the contest. 

But Boston’s biggest loss was that of center Kendrick Perkins.  Perkins, the Celtics’ best defender of Dwight Howard, was hit with two questionable technical fouls – which caused him to be ejected from the game.  The first technical was called when play continued after a stoppage, and Perkins gave an unintentional elbow to Marcin Gortat.  The second, and most talked-about, technical foul was given as Perkins expressed disapproval of a foul called against him – and was walking away from the official.  Also, since Perkins has accumulated seven technicals in the postseason, the league has the option of suspending him for a game.  The nature of the fouls almost assuredly ensures that they will be reviewed and may be rescinded.  If not, his loss will place Boston at a huge disadvantage in Game 6.

So, given the newfound effectiveness of Orlando’s offense, Doc Rivers and his staff have some work to do.

Most importantly, Boston’s trainers will have to earn their paychecks if the Celtics expect to appear in their second NBA Finals in three years.

That, or have everyone in the TD Garden complaining of the neverending smell of Ben Gay.