There’s no great way to surrender a protracted win streak, so the Boston Celtics could be forgiven for dropping this one to a really over-confident Orlando Magic workforce whereas lacking three key contributors – Marcus Good, Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon. Boston went down by not less than 13 factors twice, dropping the sport 113-98. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each put in 26 factors to steer Boston as Orlando gained the season sequence.
Jaylen Brown was scorching proper out of the gates as the remainder of the Celtics have been a bit extra timid, particularly when it got here to the paint. The Magic did an awesome job of proudly owning that pot on the court docket whereas Boston was deterred by lengthy limbs on protection. Within the first half, the Celtics fell behind by as a lot as 14 because the Magic waltzed to the rim in transition. Orlando had a bunch of highlights, led by Jonathan Isaac’s return (think about my shock after they saved working performs for him nonstop) and Cole Anthony’s on the spot offense.
After Mo Wagner waved Boston goodbye with about eight minutes left within the first half, Grant Williams had sufficient. Imploring Boston to restrict transition and get to the rim, Boston earned management again virtually immediately with slightly underneath 4 minutes left within the first half, capping off a 16-point turnaround. Three straight Jayson Tatum buckets on the rim (two of these ought to have been and-1s) put Boston on high. As an alternative of letting the energetic Orlando workforce dictate the tempo, one of the best workforce within the league received their . . . ahem . . . magic again.
Out of the half, the Celtics saved the momentum going regardless of giving up extra transition alternatives than they did within the late second. About halfway by way of the quarter, Jayson Tatum exited the sport and headed straight to the locker room whereas grabbing at his ribs. It’s arduous to see the place the harm occurred since he hit a 3-pointer simply seconds earlier. Just about instantly, issues received out of hand as Jonathan Isaac (10 factors in 10 minutes) gave Orlando a big raise.
Orlando went on a 20-5 run after Tatum’s harm, placing Boston in an analogous place as they have been within the earlier quarter, happening by 13. It’s notable that timeouts led to each of the occasions Boston dug itself out of a gap tonight. Tatum’s return to the ground helped Boston stabilize a bit, taking a nine-point deficit into the fourth quarter.
Sam Hauser (13 factors, 1 block) lastly broke out of his droop tonight, and his play early within the fourth quarter was an enormous increase for the Celtics because the offense floor to a halt. After a large hustle play on the ground, he bailed out Boston for five-straight factors on damaged performs. After solely taking part in 9 first-half minutes due to the aggravation of his neck harm, Derrick White (11 factors, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and a pair of blocks) additionally got here up massive down the stretch. Payton Pritchard was additionally an unsung hero, making good selections with the ball all night.
For the Magic, Franz Wagner (15 factors, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) regularly doused Boston’s possibilities with well timed performs on each ends. Wendell Carter was strong, posting 21 factors and 11 rebounds. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 23 factors and three 3-pointers (sigh).
Orlando went on an 10-0 run, making issues more and more troublesome for Boston to get some traction going. Horford lastly broke the run with simply over two minutes left within the recreation. Boston turning the ball over 17 occasions was a giant obstacle on their possibilities to win the sport. Numerous 50/50 balls went Orlando’s means, and the Celtics merely ran out of time to finish the second comeback of the sport.
The Celtics take one of the best document within the league (nonetheless) to Miami tomorrow evening as a part of the NBA’s rival week in a matchup towards the Warmth.