Key Points Summary – Celtics Lose Playoff Game
- Jayson Tatum returned from injury and scored 36 points but it wasn’t enough.
- Celtics lose 95-93 to the Magic, cutting their series lead to 2-1.
- Boston collapsed in a disastrous third quarter, scoring only 11 points.
- The Celtics missed 17 of 19 shots during a brutal stretch.
- Franz Wagner (32 points) and Paolo Banchero (29 points) led the Magic’s comeback.
- Jrue Holiday missed Game 3 with a hamstring injury, hurting Boston’s defense.
- Game 4 is a must-win for Boston, or the series could slip away.
Celtics Playoff Nightmare: Tatum’s 36 Points Wasted in Devastating Loss to Magic
It was supposed to be a triumphant night.
Jayson Tatum returned from injury, dropped 36 points, and gave the Celtics a fighting chance.
Instead? Boston lost 95-93 to the Orlando Magic in a gut-wrenching Game 3 collapse, cutting their series lead to a terrifying 2-1.
Celtics lose playoff game, and now their championship dream is hanging by a thread.
Tatum Fought Through the Pain – But It Wasn’t Enough
After missing Game 2 with a bone bruise in his right wrist, Tatum suited up and gave everything he had.
- 36 points
- 9 rebounds
- 39 hard-fought minutes
“I just felt like I needed to go out there and play,” Tatum said.
He played… but Boston still fell short.
Disaster Struck in the Third Quarter
The Celtics went into halftime with a comfortable 10-point lead.
Tatum was rolling. Boston looked in control.
But the third quarter? An absolute disaster:
- Celtics scored just 11 points.
- Shot 3-for-17 from the field.
- Committed 6 turnovers.
- Missed 17 of their next 19 shots!
Orlando smelled blood—and they pounced.
Magic’s Young Guns Took Over
Franz Wagner (32 points) and Paolo Banchero (29 points) took full advantage of Boston’s meltdown.
They spearheaded a 14-0 run that flipped the game completely, and the Magic led 86-74 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Celtics fought back to tie the game at 91, but Wagner sealed the win with back-to-back baskets.
The final buzzer sounded—and Boston’s dreams of a 3-0 stranglehold vanished into thin air.
Missing Jrue Holiday Was a Killer
Boston missed their defensive anchor Jrue Holiday, out with a hamstring injury.
Without him, the Celtics were vulnerable, and the Magic’s physical play pushed them around.
Boston committed 21 turnovers, a shocking number for a playoff game.
Porzingis summed it up:
“It’s a big difference from the regular season.”
The Final Seconds: More Heartbreak
Down by two, Boston had one last chance with 0.3 seconds left.
But Derrick White’s desperate inbounds pass was deflected—and just like that, it was over.
Tatum stood stunned. The Magic celebrated.
Celtics’ Problems Pile Up
- Tatum injured: Still playing through pain.
- Holiday injured: No timeline for return.
- 3-point shooting vanished: Celtics went 17 minutes without hitting a 3 in the second half.
- Turnover nightmare: 21 brutal giveaways.
- Orlando’s physicality: Boston couldn’t match the Magic’s aggression.
This isn’t the regular season anymore. This is playoff survival.
What’s Next: Game 4 Must-Win
- When: Sunday
- Where: Orlando
- Series: Boston leads 2-1
Game 4 is now the most important game of the season for the Celtics.
Lose, and it’s 2-2 with all the momentum swinging Orlando’s way.
Win, and Boston regains control and heads back to TD Garden for Game 5.
Celtics Lose Playoff Game
Boston fans are devastated.
Tatum’s heroic return deserved better.
But basketball doesn’t reward effort alone—it demands execution.
Now the Celtics find themselves staring down a fired-up Orlando team, missing a key player, and needing every ounce of heart and toughness they have left.
If they want to defend their crown, they better wake up fast—because the Magic just proved they’re not going away.
Sunday will be a war.
