BOSTON -- Two nights after putting the Celtics on his back in the second half of a win over the Golden State Warriors, Rajon Rondo found himself confined to the bench during crucial moments of Friday's loss to the Magic.

Rondo finished with 6 points, 6 assists, and 3 turnovers in 29 minutes, but struggled to guide the offense as efficiently as he had the previous game. Celtics coach Doc Rivers leaned on backup guard Eddie House to bring Boston back from two double-digit deficits.

"Today, Rajon just didn't play well," said Rivers. "And Eddie -- there's no conspiracy here. Eddie had it going, defensively he was good. And when Eddie plays good defense, it allows him to stay on the floor. So, he spaced the floor, he did his job."

When reporters persisted about whether the lack of execution Friday fell on Rondo, Rivers defended his fourth-year guard.

"It's not on Rondo. No, no, no," said Rivers. "No, as a group we have to play better. But, listen, Rondo didn't play well today. He's been pretty good for the most part, he won the game for us the other night. So, no, it's just as a group. We are not functioning well as a group, all five on the floor."

Rondo subbed back in with 1:41 to go in the game with the Celtics trailing by a bucket and couldn't convert a driving layup. Boston was desperate for someone to settle a frantic offense, but not even Rondo could calm them.

Asked if Rondo's lack of playing time in the fourth quarter was an issue, Pierce said it was the coach's decision.

"Rondo's a defender, he gets steals, he causes havoc," said Pierce. "But that's what coaches do. They devise the schemes, they put the players in... We're players, we're asked to go out on the court and the coaches are putting the players on the court. It's not our job to be saying, 'Put Rajon in the game.' We're out there trying to win as a team, it's not about one individual."