In Wednesday's other National Basketball Association game, Karl Malone led the visiting Utah Jazz past the Houston Rockets 95-82 for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Malone scored 32 points, 21 in the second half, and grabbed 19 rebounds.
Both winners can close out their best-of-five series with fourth-game road victories Friday night.
"This is the game we didn't lose our composure,'' Orlando coach Brian Hill said. Orlando was swept in the first round of the playoffs last season. It had the best record in the Eastern Conference this season, but split the first two games at home with Boston, the only sub-.500 playoff team.
Shaquille O'Neal had 20 points and a season-high 21 rebounds in front of a full house in Boston Garden.
The Jazz, among the best road teams in the NBA with a 27-14 record in the regular season, were not intimidated by Houston's crowd, after splitting the first two games in Salt Lake City.
Jeff Hornacek and David Benoit each scored 14 points for the Jazz. Hakeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
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