Magic vs. Celtics 128-111

 There are not many teams that can say they’ve had success against the Boston Celtics over the course of the last two seasons. 

However, the Orlando Magic are one of those squads. 

Orlando has won four straight meetings with Boston, including a 17-point triumph just a few weeks ago. 

The Magic (16-7) will attempt to become the first team to defeat the league-leading Celtics (18-5) at TD Garden this season when they go head-to-head on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

“It’s a great opportunity for our guys with them being undefeated at home,” said Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley of facing a C’s team that’s 12-0 in Boston. “The Garden is packed, it’s loud, and our guys are prepared and ready for the situation that we’re going to face. It’s a great opportunity for this group.” 

Of their 12 home wins, the Celtics have won seven of them by double digits. That includes four by at least 15 points, three of which had a margin of victory greater than 23 points. Boston's biggest win of the season came at TD Garden, when they blew out the Pacers by 51 points. 

Thursday night was a little closer, but it was never really in doubt. Though the Cavaliers trimmed an 11-point halftime deficit to just four points by the end of the third quarter, the Celtics pulled away thanks to some timely buckets and smothering defense over the final 12 minutes.

Goga Bitadze posted a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. Paolo Banchero added 14 points, and Anthony Black 13.

Orlando posted an opening 7-0 run and led 11-4 after Banchero's driving finish at the 7:46 mark, but Brown's 10 first-quarter points helped the hosts take back momentum.

Pritchard hit back-to-back 3-pointers off the bench, bringing Boston back within a basket with 4:32 left. Pritchard drained another after Tatum broke a tie in the final minute for a 30-24 advantage after one period.

Without Horford and (potentially) Porzingis in the rotation, the Magic will likely look to pressure the rim at every opportunity. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are both talented forwards who can lean on their size to create mismatches and scoring opportunities across all three levels.

Should Queta be thrust into the starting lineup, Boston will need to be wary of his tendency to foul and bite on pump fakes. We could potentially see Jayson Tatum slide into the middle of the court for stretches as he uses his size and defensive versatility to provide some resistance around the rim. Or, Mazzulla could embrace some small-ball rotations and bank of an aggressive switching system and bullish, in-your-face brand of defense to rattle and young an inexperienced Magic team.

Whatever the coaching staff chooses, potentially being without your entire big-man rotation against a team that’s quickly improving is a hammer blow that could certainly cost the Celtics the game.

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Sarah H

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