Still without Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner, the Magic also had to host the Celtics without Moritz Wagner, who will not play again this season… Certainly, the reigning champions were going to play this meeting without Jayson Tatum, but the mission looked particularly perilous for Orlando.
This was quickly confirmed. Boston dominates the start by stealing balls and making the gap. The Magic seems too stripped down to react, but finds a second wind. It's short and it doesn't allow you to come back, only Jalen Suggs' winning basket, almost at the buzzer, saves the furniture a little (21-32).
Jamahl Mosley's men make a lot of effort in defense, with well-made assists and interceptions, but in attack, it is very complicated. Boston hardly presses the accelerator but it is enough to have a fifteen point lead at halftime (43-58). The break is good for the Floridians, who start the second half with a 7-0. Jaylen Brown pulls out his muscles on two baskets in a row, but Orlando comes back and can believe it. With his first points of the match, Cole Anthony even put his team in front for a few seconds (79-79).
At the start of the last quarter, repeat: Orlando goes 7-0 again to start. This time, Jaylen Brown can no longer do it and it is the winning baskets from Jrue Holiday and Derrick White which suggest a comeback for the Celtics. They are not very far away because the Magic is on the verge of breaking in the final seconds. Fortunately, Tristan da Silva scores the 3-point basket which allows us to breathe ten seconds from the end, and the Magic wins 108-104!
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– What courage from Magic! On paper, it was not a win. On the floor even less when we watch the first half. But Orlando always made efforts in defense, causing 18 Celtics lose balls, and also blocking 9 shots. The active hands, excellent rotations and basket protection finally paid off in the second half. However, they did not win this match only through courage, with their team and their defense, an element of luck also comes into the equation, but that can be provoked. Trevelin Queen's two prize-winning baskets, which came in with the board, did a lot of good…
– Jaylen Brown and the Celtics too easy? Even without Jayson Tatum, would the Celtics have taken this game over? Not impossible, as they are used to sometimes holding back against teams weaker than them. The start of the game was easy, despite the Magic's resistance on defense, but as they pulled away, they seemed on the right track. Except that, like Jaylen Brown (35 points in 29 shots and 5 lost balls), dominant in the first period then in difficulty in the second, things got harder and harder as the minutes went by. Stuck in a tight and very physical encounter, the Celtics no longer had all the answers. With a little more seriousness no doubt, and certainly by taking a few hits against the Magic's defense, Boston would have been able to capitalize on the first half and win.
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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.
