Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy saw something different about Dwight Howard heading into the playoffs.

Howard, 22, usually the team's biggest jokester, suddenly got serious. So did his already-impressive numbers.

Howard had 21 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks -- his third 20-20 game in the series -- and the Magic advanced to second round for the first time in 12 years by beating the Toronto Raptors, 102-92, in Game 5 last night at Amway Arena in Orlando, Fla.

"There was a different demeanor from him," Van Gundy said of his young center. "Dwight is a fun-loving guy and he likes to fool around. There are a lot of times during the year, not bad, but a lot of times during the year where I've got to try to bring him back to being serious when we're preparing.

"I did not have to say one word, from the start of preparation for this series all the way through," Van Gundy said.

Howard's game said it all. And with Orlando's usually steady 3-point shooting on the fritz, his inside power was enough to pull them through.

"He's a phenom; he's the best center in the league," said Raptors star Chris Bosh, who was guarded by Howard all game. "He's probably the strongest guy in the league, and he knows how to use his body. It doesn't surprise me at all. I've seen him play this whole series, I've seen him play this season."

Bosh, who posted career playoff highs of 39 points and 15 rebounds at Toronto Saturday, had 16 points and 9 rebounds last night.

The Magic will play the winner of the Detroit-Philadelphia series, which is tied 2-2, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Other game

• Hawks 97, Celtics 92: Forget about a Boston sweep. Atlanta is headed back to Beantown tied, 2-2. Joe Johnson scored 35 points -- 20 in the fourth quarter -- and Josh Smith added 28 points and seven blocks for Atlanta, which surprised the Celtics again to even this Eastern Conference best-of-seven series. The Hawks, who had the worst record (37-45) of any playoff team, overcame two double-digit deficits to beat a team that won an NBA-leading 66 games in the regular season.