The Celtics are on the highway for final recreation earlier than their Christmas Day recreation. They face the Orlando Magic for the primary of three video games this season. They are going to meet two extra occasions, as soon as in Boston on January seventeenth and as soon as extra in Orlando on April 9. The Celtics had been simply 2-1 in opposition to the Magic final season, shedding their lone recreation within the collection in Orlando and successful each video games in Boston.
The Celtics are 75-55 general, all time in opposition to the Magic and they’re 26-37 in video games performed in Orlando. The Celtics have misplaced their final 2 video games that they performed in Orlando. These 2 groups are endlessly linked collectively of their histories. The ultimate recreation performed on the Boston Backyard was in opposition to the Orlando Magic in Recreation 4 of the 1995 NBA Playoffs. The Magic secured a 95-92 win, marking the tip of the Boston Backyard’s 67-year operation and it additionally marked the primary time in franchise historical past that the Magic gained a playoff collection and superior to the second spherical.
The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 2.5 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers. They’re 4 video games forward of the third place Knicks and 5 video games forward of the 4th place Magic. They’re 11- at residence and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 20-4 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. The Magic are 4th within the East, 7.5 video games out of first place and 5 video games behind 2nd place Boston. They’re 1.5 video games forward of fifth place Milwaukee. They’re 11-2 at residence and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 14-7 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. Each groups are in search of their 2nd straight win.
After this recreation in Orlando, the Celtics will return residence to play the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day, which would be the first recreation of a 4 recreation residence stand. After Philly, they are going to face Indian twice and Toronto. They are going to then head out on a 4 recreation Western highway journey by Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They are going to return residence to face 2 extra Western groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto earlier than going through Orlando and Atlanta at residence.
This recreation for the Magic is the 4th recreation of a 7 recreation highway journey. They misplaced the primary two video games to the Knicks and Thunder after which beat the Warmth on Saturday. They are going to end the house stand in opposition to Miami, New York and Brooklyn. They are going to then play at Detroit and at Toronto earlier than one recreation at residence in opposition to Utah, one recreation on the highway in opposition to New York and residential once more in opposition to Minnesota, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia.
The Celtics ought to have their beginning 5 wholesome. The one participant on the damage report is Sam Hauser, who’s questionable because of again spasms. His standing will likely be a recreation time determination. For the Magic, Jalen Suggs is questionable because of an ankle damage he suffered in opposition to the Thunder on Thursday. He missed Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Warmth and will likely be a recreation time determination for this one. If he can’t play Anthony Black will probably get the beginning in his place.
Mac McClung is questionable with a leg damage and Gary Harris is questionable with a hamstring damage. Each will likely be a recreation time determination. The Magic can even be with out 3 of their prime gamers. Paolo Banchero is out with a torn proper indirect. Franz Wagner can also be out with a torn proper indirect. Franz’ older brother, former Celtic Moritz Wagner, tore his ACL after simply 2 minutes of play in Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Warmth and is out for the remainder of the season.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan WalshXavier Tillman
2 Manner PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutSam Hauser (again) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Magic Starters
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PG: Jalen SuggsSG: Kentavious Caldwell-PopeSF: Tristan da Silva PF: Wendell Carter, JrC: Goga Bitadze
Magic ReservesCole AnthonyAnthony BlackCaleb HoustanJett HowardJonathan IsaacCory Joseph
2-Manner Gamers Mac McClungTrevelin Queen
Accidents/OutPaolo Banchero (indirect) outFranz Wagner (indirect) outMoritz Wagner (knee) out Gary Harris (hamstring) questionable Mac McClung (leg) questionable Jalen Suggs (ankle) questionable
Head Coach Jamahl Mosley
Key Matchups
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Payton Pritchard
Picture by Greg Fiume/Getty Photographs
Cole Anthony
Picture by Nic Antaya/Getty Photographs
Payton Pritchard vs Cole Anthony With each Wagners and Banchero out, Anthony has stepped up for the Magic off the bench. He’s averaging 6.2 factors, 2.2 rebounds, and a pair of.2 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 40.4% from the sector and 30.6% from past the arc. Nonetheless, on Saturday, he completed with 35 factors, 8 rebounds, 9 assists 1 steal and 1 block whereas capturing 52% from the sector and 25% on 3s. He has had large video games in opposition to the Celtics prior to now and they also want to concentrate to him on protection.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Photographs
Goga Bitadze
Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs
Kristaps Porzingis vs Goga Bitadze Bitadze is averaging 9.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 65.4% from the sector and 0% from the perimeter. On Saturday, he additionally stepped up with their prime 2 scorers out, ending with 18 factors, 13 rebounds, 1 help and a pair of blocks whereas capturing 100% from the sector however didn’t take a 3. The Celtics want to attract him out to the perimeter on protection as he is an effective rim protector and rebounder and they should maintain him out of the paint on offense.
Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Jalen Suggs Suggs is averaging 16 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block per recreation. He’s capturing 40.5% from the sector and 31% from past the arc. He missed Saturday’s recreation after injuring his ankle in Thursday’s recreation. He’s questionable for this recreation. If he can’t play, Anthony Black ought to get the beginning in his place. Black is averaging 8.7 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists per recreation whereas capturing 42.7% from the sector and 27% from past the arc.
Keys to the GameDefense – I can’t say it sufficient, however protection is all the time the important thing to successful. The Celtics are eighth the league with a defensive ranking of 109.5. The Magic are third within the league with a defensive ranking of 106.5. The Magic are twenty eighth in scoring at 106.8 factors per recreation. They’ve been successful with their protection and if the Celtics hope to beat them, they should play powerful lock down protection themselves.
Rebound – Rebounding can also be essential if a staff needs to win video games. You may’t rating in case you don’t have the ball and one of the best ways to get the ball is to seize rebounds to provide themselves further possessions. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and if the Celtics put the additional effort into grabbing rebounds, they normally present effort in all components of the sport. The Celtics are 14-1 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents and 8-5 when they’re out-rebounded. The Celtics want to provide further effort on the boards on this recreation.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics are likely to let up once they face groups which might be lacking stars. With each Wagners and Banchero out on this one, the Celtics could underestimate this Magic staff and are available out with lower than 100% effort. That will be a mistake as a result of this identical quick handed Magic staff beat the Warmth on Saturday. The Celtics have to play this staff as onerous as they might the highest staff within the league at full power.
Keep Targeted – The Celtics want to remain centered and maintain the ball. The Magic are third within the league with 20.4 factors off turnovers. The Celtics can’t unfastened focus and switch the ball over or the Magic will make them pay. In addition they should keep centered on taking part in the sport the precise means and never enable dangerous calls to get into their heads and make them lose their composure. In addition they have to remain centered on taking good photographs and making them. If the 3s aren’t falling, they should get into the paint.
X-Elements Street Recreation and injuries- The Celtics are taking part in on the highway. They’re going through distractions of journey and taking part in in an unfamiliar area in entrance of hostile followers. They should shake off these distractions and maintain their give attention to taking part in the sport. Normally accidents to an opponent’s finest gamers is motive to count on a simple win, however for some motive, that tends to be an equation for the Celtics to play a lackluster recreation and lose to a staff they need to beat.
Officiating – Officiating can all the time be an X-Issue. In some video games, you don’t even discover the referees and in different video games, they appear to make the sport all about them (see the primary recreation in opposition to the Bulls). Some crews name the sport tight and others let the groups play. Some crews favor one of many groups whereas others name it pretty. Regardless of how the sport known as, the Celtics should alter to the way in which the sport is being referred to as and never enable the officiating to remove from their focus.
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