Shorthanded Magic defeat Celtics 108-104 in dogfight

Coming off a blowout win over the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics took a visit to Orlando to face off towards a depleted Magic staff. That didn’t cease the Magic clawing victory out of the jaws of defeat, beautiful Boston because the Celtics lose a irritating recreation 108-104.

Jaylen Brown led the way in which for Boston with 35 factors on 15-of-29 capturing, however it wasn’t sufficient as the remainder of the staff struggled to get something going offensively. The Celtics couldn’t hit the three-ball on this recreation capturing 8/33 (24.2%) from past the arc. Tristan Da Silva (18 factors), Trevelin Queen (17 factors), and Jalen Suggs (16 factors) led the cost for the Magic in a bodily and sloppy recreation.

The sport began with confusion as minutes earlier than tipoff, Jayson Tatum was dominated questionable with an sickness and Al Horford changed him within the beginning lineup. Tatum was formally dominated out at halftime.

Celtics Harm Report Replace vs. Orlando:

Jayson Tatum – Sickness (Non-Covid) – QUESTIONABLE

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 23, 2024

Jaylen Brown would start the scoring for Boston with a layup in transition and located Al Horford for an alley-oop layup. It took lower than three minutes for all 5 Celtics starters to attain as they opened the sport on a 10-2 run.

Though the Magic have been undermanned, they have been in a position to sustain with the Celtics with their aggressive protection. The offensive finish was a distinct story as Boston held Orlando to 8-23 capturing from the sector and 1-6 from three with 6 turnovers within the first quarter. Brown began the sport on fireplace with 15 factors on 7-11 capturing because the Celtics lead 32-21 after the primary twelve minutes.

The second quarter began with Jrue Vacation placing Anthony Black within the weight room to attain a tricky layup and the Celtics protection persevering with to clamp the Magic on protection. A really loud “Let’s Go, Celtics” chant started to fill the Kia Heart prefer it was a recreation at TD Backyard. Nonetheless, Boston couldn’t capitalize on the newfound house courtroom benefit as they went ice chilly, lacking 6 straight threes to begin the quarter.

An Al Horford three snapped Boston’s chilly spell and the Magic fouled the Celtics into the bonus with slightly below 5 minutes left within the half. The Celtics took benefit of this and opened up their largest lead of the half at 14 factors. Orlando did job of operating Boston off the three-point line however the Celtics used their physicality to bully the Magic within the paint. No higher instance of this was when Jaylen Brown backed down Anthony Black for a layup and Black proceeded to throw the inbound cross proper to Jrue Vacation who was lurking below the basket for one more simple bucket.

The Celtics took a 58-43 lead into the half on the again of their protection, limiting the Magic to 16-48 (33.3%) capturing from the sector and 3-15 (20%) capturing from three. The Celtics shot the identical proportion from three as Orlando however their 23-45 (51.1%) capturing from the sector and 30 factors within the paint was the driving pressure of their offense. Jaylen Brown continued to cleared the path for the Celtics with 19 factors on 8-13 capturing as The Inventory Change of Jrue Vacation and Derrick White had 10 factors of their very own.

Boston began the second half sloppy as they allowed the Magic to attain 6 fast factors and compelled Joe Mazzulla to name a timeout not even two minutes into the quarter. The timeout appeared to work because the Celtics offense pushed the lead again to double digits, however the Magic’s protection didn’t let up, baiting the Celtics into turnovers to go on a 9-1 run to chop the deficit to five.

Jaylen Brown put collectively a powerful sequence the place he rocked the rim with a two-handed slam after which off of a Vacation steal, cleaned up a missed Luke Kornet shot for one more basket and flexed to the group.

The Magic responded and continued to hound the Celtics on protection. The Celtics continued to pressure dangerous photographs, flip the ball over, and allowed Orlando to tie the sport. Cole Anthony began to really feel it with back-to-back buckets and the Magic took their first lead of the night time with 2:10 to go within the third quarter.

Boston stayed alive on the free throw line, however the harm was accomplished — the sport was tied 79-79 going into the fourth quarter. The Magic outscored the Celtics 36-21 within the third quarter after they solely scored 43 factors on the half. Boston’s three ball continued to be an issue as they have been 5-24 from past the arc by means of the primary three quarters. The Celtics shot a putrid 5-19 (26.3%) from the sector and 2-9 (22.2%) from three with 7 turnovers.

The Magic’s sizzling capturing continued as they opened up the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run. The Celtics tried their finest to reply however the Magic’s protection continued to offer them suits. Jaylen Brown tried his finest to will the Celtics again into the sport, however the Magic couldn’t miss.

With below 5 minutes to go, feelings began to run excessive as a scuffle erupted. The Magic have been asking for a evaluate when Kristaps Porzingis and Jalen Suggs went head to head with one another, Goga Bitadze shoved Porzingis and chaos ensued. Bitadze was ejected from the sport.

Out of the scuffle, each groups continued to commerce baskets, however a Jrue Vacation three and a Jaylen Brown layup lower the Magic’s result in 1 with 59.6 seconds to go. After a Magic timeout, the Celtics had an opportunity to take the lead, however Al Horford missed a 3 within the nook and Orlando got here down on the opposite finish the place rookie Tristan Da Silva hit the dagger to offer the Magic a 108-104 win.

The Celtics subsequent recreation is on Christmas Day towards the Philadelphia 76ers at 5 pm EST.