Six in a row for Orlando! After Chicago (x2), Indiana, Toronto and Denver, Jamahl Mosley’s squad thus took the scalp of Boston (113-96), yet the best record at the start of the season so far.
A new success which allows the Magic to get even closer to the top of the conference, with 11 victories for 5 defeats, and even to put an option on first place in group C, in the NBA tournament. In short, a good evening on all fronts for Paolo Banchero’s troop (23 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists).
However, in this match at an advanced time, it was the Celtics who got off to the best start, despite the absence of Jrue Holiday in between. The Magic’s offensive game is messy, with a lot of turnovers, and Derrick White systematically attacks Cole Anthony. The gap is +11 (30-19) in favor of Boston after 12 minutes.
Particularly hampered by the size and scope of Jonathan Isaac, Jayson Tatum is struggling to get into rhythm, and if the Jaylen Brown – Kristaps Porzingis duo is still doing well, the locals are finally letting their horses go in attack.
Moe Wagner makes a big first pass but the audience especially gets excited about this alley-oop from Franz Wagner for Cole Anthony. The Magic had managed to get back together but Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet scored again just before halftime. Boston is therefore still in the lead (56-48) but the margin of error is reduced for the Celtics.
And if the second half starts very well for the Massachusetts players, with a superb pass from KP for Jaylen Brown who goes for the dunk, it gets complicated, very, very quickly…
The Magic thus continues 3-point successes while Kristaps Porzingis has to leave the field, injured. The beginning of the end for the Celtics, who are unable to restart the machine and are punished again and again by a powerful Moe Wagner, while Orlando reaps the rebound. And won by controlling the second half (113-96).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The exit of Kristaps Porzingis. Even though Orlando had the momentum when this happened, the exit of Kristaps Porzingis led to Boston’s downfall. The two teams were tied (62-62) when the Latvian left the field. Without Jrue Holiday, Joe Mazzulla clearly wanted to constantly rely on two interiors (Porzingis/Horford, Porzingis/Kornet, Horford/Jornet) to hold the racket against this Magic team which likes to attack the circle and impose its power, but which remains limited at the level of exterior shooting.
– The impact of Moe Wagner. The power of the German (27 points in 24 minutes) hurt the Celtics very, very badly. The symbol of the difference in impact under the circle between the two teams, with 60 points scored in the paint by the Magic, against 40 for the Celtics, and a huge difference on the rebound: 48-31.
– Perfect operation for Orlando. A victory against the best team in the league is already an excellent thing. But with this success, the Magic achieves a 6th consecutive success, moves closer to the top of the Eastern Conference and puts an option on first place in Group C, in the East, with a view to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
