Apr 20, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) controls the ball whereas the Orlando Magic defend through the second half at TD Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Photos The Orlando Magic might be in search of extra secondary scoring Wednesday once they go to the Boston Celtics for Sport 2 of their Jap Convention first-round playoff collection.
Regardless of 36 factors from Paolo Banchero and 23 from Franz Wagner, Orlando dropped the collection opener 103-86 in Boston on Sunday. No different Magic participant scored greater than seven factors.
Orlando’s three different starters mixed for 10 factors: level guard Cory Joseph was scoreless, middle Wendell Carter Jr. had 4 factors and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope completed with six.
“Our means to make it possible for once we get the rebound or we do flip them over, we now have to verify we convert,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley stated. “It’s important to get simple baskets when you’ve got a high-level protection as they’re.”
The Magic held Jayson Tatum to 17 factors and Jaylen Brown to 16, however Boston’s supporting solid offered loads of offense. Derrick White was 7-of-12 from 3-point territory and tossed in 30 factors, and Payton Pritchard got here off the bench to attain 19 — two greater than Orlando’s non-starters.
“That is one thing as a crew we harped on coming in, is that they do have two primary guys, nevertheless it’s actually the opposite guys that kill you,” Banchero stated. “I feel we simply should do a greater job of getting these guys off the road as a result of they actually kill you from three. … You do a very good job on the principle guys, however among the position guys on the wings, they kill you. So, we now have to do a greater job taking them away.”
Boston trailed 49-48 at halftime, however outscored Orlando 30-18 within the third and 25-19 within the fourth.
“Trying again at it, that momentum shift within the third quarter was huge,” Mosley stated. “Us being deliberate and intentional in a few of our defensive communication items … (we) had a pair mishaps. That is what obtained to their spark.
“We have got to push that ball up the ground lots sooner so we’re not sitting down taking part in towards a set switching protection.”
Brown scored 10 of his 16 factors within the third quarter. Jrue Vacation added 9 factors within the third quarter after failing to attain within the first half.
“I feel that within the first half, (the Magic) form of managed the depth degree of the sport,” Brown stated. “They had been extra bodily than us, and within the second half, we form of shifted that.”
The Celtics had a momentary scare early within the fourth quarter when Tatum drove to the basket and was fouled laborious by Caldwell-Pope. Tatum landed awkwardly on his proper wrist and remained on the ground in apparent discomfort, however remained within the recreation.
Tatum stated his X-ray got here again destructive, and he was feeling higher after the sport.
“I simply landed on it,” he stated. “It was throbbing for a second, then form of went away.”
Following Sport 2, the best-of-seven collection will shift to Orlando for Sport 3 (Friday) and Sport 4 (Sunday).
“The purpose is to try to get one (on the street),” Banchero stated. “Sport 2 we now have to come back out with the next degree of focus and simply do what we will do to get a win on the street as a result of we’re not successful this collection until we do. So, that is the purpose.”
–Area Stage Media
