Lynne Sladky / AP

Magic guard Vince Carter shoots as Heat center Jermaine O'Neal, right, tries to defend during Orlando's 108-102 overtime victory Thursday. Carter led the Magic with 27.

It was the second time Miami pulled off a big fourth-quarter rally against Orlando this season. The Heat trailed 86-75 with 7:58 left in Orlando on Nov. 25, before winning 99-98 on a dunk by Beasley with 1.6 seconds remaining.

This time, the Heat just couldn’t finish the job.

“Heartbreaking,” Beasley said.

Howard went to the bench 12 seconds after halftime with his fourth foul, getting caught sliding left and not being set while trying to screen for Carter.

He was angry about it, as was Van Gundy. Odd thing was, it seemed to fire up Orlando’s perimeter troupe.

Matt Barnes, Carter and Nelson did all the scoring in a 14-4 run by the Magic over a 5½-minute stretch of the third quarter, turning a two-point deficit into a 70-62 lead with 3:38 left in the period, all of it coming with Howard watching from the bench. When he returned to start the fourth, Orlando led 76-71 — and even without the big man, the Magic outrebounded Miami 15-5 in the third.

“We battled. We competed. I have no problem with the way we fought,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We were in the fight. It was about what was next and being able to finish that.”

NOTES: It was Wade’s 442nd game in double figures, tying Alonzo Mourning’s franchise record. ... The Magic may be without swingman Mickael Pietrus longer than first thought. Pietrus, who sprained his left ankle in Wednesday’s win over San Antonio, may be out a week or more. ... The circular scoreboard over midcourt and the large ribbon scoreboards on either end of the floor stopped working during the third quarter.

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Jim Rogash / Getty Images

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  Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

They meet again: Heat-Celtics in East finals

MIAMI (AP) - It's a rematch: Miami and Boston will meet in the playoffs again, this time with a spot in the NBA finals at stake.

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