Already defeated at TD Garden on Friday evening, Orlando displayed much better opposition this Sunday for this second confrontation in a row on Celtics land. But at the end, the result was the same, with a loss by the same margin of 17 points.
The Floridians managed to tickle Boston in the first quarter, carried by a Paolo Banchero on a mission (19 of the 31 points scored by Orlando during the period) in order to turn to +4 after 12 minutes (27-31). Jayson Tatum then put his team back on the right track with two baskets in a row, and the Pritchard-Holiday pair followed up with two 3-point baskets which allowed the C's to take the advantage (37-33).
An advantage that the locals never let go of, even if the Magic sold their skin dearly. Because Boston stepped on the accelerator by going 12-2 then an 8-0 with this time Derrick White and Jrue Holiday shooting from afar (61-46). Orlando didn't give up, however. Coming back to -11 at the break (61-50), the Floridians managed to get back to -4 by relying on an aggressive Suggs-Wagner-Banchero trio (69-65).
Starting again with a slap dunk with the foul on Kristaps Porzingis, Boston however had to fight until the end of the third quarter to preserve a decent gap (83-74). Franz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac kept up the pressure at the start of the fourth quarter, until Jaylen Brown took charge.
Author of 17 points in the last act, JB lined up the decisive baskets including three 3-point baskets which ended up disgusting the Magic. In its wake, Boston punctuated its great evening with a 20-3 to secure a new success (114-97), the 14th in 14 home games this season!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The finale by Jaylen Brown. Boston controlled its game but remained under threat from a rough Magic team until the start of the fourth quarter. That's when Jaylen Brown took out his superhero cape to come and save the Celtics from a suspenseful end to the game. With 17 of his 31 points scored in the last act, he disgusted Orlando almost single-handedly, with baskets that acted like uppercuts on an already shaky opponent. He scored a Jordanian basket against Franz Wagner to end his performance in style.
– Paolo Banchero’s response. Having come through on Friday evening with a small 5/17 shooting accompanied by 5 lost balls, Paolo Banchero responded with a great match this Sunday, finishing with 36 points and 10 rebounds. At halftime, he had scored more points (26) than the rest of the team combined! He also greatly contributed to keeping the Floridians in the match, with remarkable passages.
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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.
