Celtics Overpower Magic
Boston, MA — Boston showcased why they are both the reigning champions and the favorites to with the Larry O’Brien this year as the Celtics had a commanding 121-94 win over the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. The game was a tale of two offenses, being both a testament to Boston’s offensive efficiency when they are clicking, and a wake-up call for Orlando’s, whose offense faltered significantly as they struggled to find any rhythm.
Injury Report Stays Constant
Before the game, the Orlando Magic were dealing with the same handful of injuries as the past few games. Jalen Suggs (low back strain), Franz Wagner (return to competition reconditioning), Moe Wagner (torn ACL), Gary Harris (left hamstring strain), Jett Howard (left ankle sprain), and Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol) were all ruled out of the game early on. On the Celtics’ side, Drew Peterson (concussion protocol) was the only player ruled out. This injury report set the stage for a challenging matchup for the Magic, who were already at a disadvantage.
Offensive Struggles Continue
The Orlando Magic faced a night of offensive frustration once again, managing only a 41.5% field goal percentage and an abysmal 15.1% from three-point range. Cole Anthony was the high scorer for Orlando with 23 points, but the team’s shooting as a whole was off. Paolo Banchero ended up with 21 points himself, but his efforts couldn’t lift the team’s overall performance.
To make matters worse, the team’s free throw shooting was reminiscent of last season, hitting just 67.7% of their shots from the charity stripe, showing how not only was the team struggling, but they were lacking confidence as they were getting choked from the Celtics all game long.
The Magic couldn’t manage to score over 30 points in a quarter a single time this game and even got held to 18 points in the fourth, whereas the Celtics hit the 30-point mark in all but one quarter. TD Garden is not an easy arena to play in, but the Magic seemed shook on almost every trip down the court through the game.
Celtics’ Firing on All Cylinders
Boston has had some concerns about the play of their star-studded starting lineup lately but shut those worries down real quick this game. Jayson Tatum led the charge for the Celtics, scoring 30 points on an impressive 57.1% shooting from the field, including 44.4% from three-point range. His performance was a display of his skill and consistency, something Celtics fans have come to expect from their star forward.
Jaylen Brown contributed 20 points, shooting 41.7% from the field and a perfect 100% from the free-throw line. Kristaps Porziņģis was also crucial, adding 23 points with a 70% shooting efficiency, showcasing his ability to dominate both inside and out. The Celtics’ depth was evident as multiple players contributed to a balanced attack that overwhelmed the Magic and where almost all starters had double-digit points.
Despite the offensive woes, Orlando’s defense showed some fight in certain moments in this game, but it wasn’t enough to counteract Boston’s offensive onslaught in a game they seemingly couldn’t miss. The Magic’s inability to make shots was a significant factor in their defeat, leaving fans feeling the weight of missed opportunities, even the good looks. The two teams were like night and day, as the Celtics had 52.5% shooting from the field, 45.9% from deep, and 90.9% from the free-throw line.
Heading Back to Orlando
For the Magic, this game was a stark reminder of the importance of shooting efficiency. Despite the bad percentages, when asked about improving from deep, Mosley said that he’s “…never discouraged when [Orlando’s] getting the right looks” and that the team has “got to continue making the right plays”. With key players sidelined, the team will need to regroup and focus on improving their offensive execution and end product. The return of players like Franz Wagner could provide a much-needed boost since he is progressing and could potentially return within the next week.
The Magic will fly back to Orlando to face another hot team in the league, the Denver Nuggets, at the Kia Center on Sunday evening. The Magic will look to make a statement and stop this stretch of poor offensive performances.