Again in April, the Celtics disposed of the Magic in 5 video games. Nevertheless, that gentleman’s sweep wasn’t indicative of how tough and tumble that first spherical sequence was. Now, with the NBA Cup in thoughts, Orlando exacted some revenge with a 123-110 win over Boston.
After making an enormous commerce to accumulate Desmond Bane, the beforehand 3-5 Magic have underperformed this season. Three-point taking pictures has nonetheless been an Achilles heel for Orlando, however on Friday evening, they obtained out of their early season droop. They hit half of their eighteen makes an attempt from the behind the arc within the first half to go up 59-51.
For the Celtics, some early foul bother saved their starters at bay. Regardless of choosing up two chippies within the first quarter, Pritchard had 14 factors within the first half, together with hitting 3-of-4 from three. Three fouls on Josh Minott didn’t forestall him from contributing on the glass, defending and making photographs from the perimeter, and throwing down an alley-oop.
Within the second half, the Celtics opened with an 11-3 run off pressured turnovers and offensive rebounds to knot the sport at 62. Jaylen Brown paced Boston within the third with 16 factors with a sequence of mid-range jumpers and powerful drives.
To open the ultimate body, Anfernee Simons obtained into the scoring column with a pair of threes to tie the sport once more at 86; Derrick White would hit one other to provide Boston their first lead since early within the first 89-87. Simons and Brown would commerce buckets with the Magic down the stretch, however some well timed three-pointers from Wendell Carter Jr., Desmond Bane, and Franz Wagner and a 17-4 run in the end ended Boston’s comeback possibilities. Orlando would end 17-of-35 from 3.
All in all, Boston continues to regulate the controllables. The Magic had simply ten offensive rebounds, however they scored a whopping 17 second likelihood factors. Sadly, the league-leading Celtics had 14 turnovers with 5 within the fourth.
With the loss, the Celtics fall to 1-1 in NBA Cup competitors. They beforehand beat the 76ers 109-108 in Philadelphia on Halloween. The Pistons and Nets began their highway to Vegas tonight as effectively with Detroit notching a win at Barclays Middle. Orlando and Detroit sit atop the group undefeated.
The workforce will keep in Orlando for the weekend for an additional sport towards the Magic on Sunday at 6 pm EST.
