In a thrilling showdown at the Amway Center, the Orlando Magic edged past the Boston Celtics with a narrow 95-93 victory on Friday, narrowing the Celtics’ series lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first round. Orlando’s Franz Wagner was instrumental, pouring in 32 points, while Paolo Banchero contributed significantly with 29 points. The Celtics’ Jayson Tatum made a strong return to their lineup after missing the previous game due to a wrist injury, leading his team with 36 points and nine rebounds.
Despite being the defending NBA champions and boasting an impressive road record of 33-8 this season, Boston has struggled in Orlando, falling to 0-3 against the Magic at this venue during the 2024-25 stretch. The Magic will have the home advantage again as they host Game 4 on Sunday.
Boston, known for their formidable 3-point shooting this season, struggled from beyond the arc, going 9 for 27 in Game 3. Their shooting woes included a prolonged dry spell of 17 minutes in the second half without a successful three-pointer. The game was marked by a physical and aggressive style of play, with a total of 43 fouls, including a flagrant one on Orlando’s Cole Anthony, and 35 turnovers, 21 of which were Boston’s. “This style of play aligns well with our approach,” Wagner commented, noting the intensity and physicality of the series.
The flagrant foul on Anthony came after a play in which Celtics’ player Jaylen Brown dislocated his left index finger. Brown, who wrapped up the game with 19 points and five fouls, hinted at potential escalating tensions in the upcoming Game 4, saying, “Maybe a fight will break out. If you want to fight, we can do that and see who advances to the next round.”
Kristaps Porzingis of the Celtics touched upon the physical nature of the Magic’s defense, acknowledging the differences between postseason and regular season play, saying, “We’ve got to accept the reality and adapt. It’s a significant shift from what we experienced during the regular season.”
The Celtics initially took control, with Tatum’s early 21 points leading them to a 10-point lead in the first half. A three-pointer by Tatum at the start of the second half extended their advantage to 11. However, Boston’s offense faltered shortly thereafter, missing 17 of their next 19 shots. Their long-awaited next 3-pointer came from Al Horford with 6:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Orlando capitalized on this drought, with a formidable 14-0 run spearheaded by Wagner and Banchero, taking control with an 86-74 lead after three quarters.
In the closing minutes, Boston managed to rally from their third-quarter slump, knotting the game at 91-all with a clutch layup by Derrick White at the 2:31 mark. Wagner responded with decisive baskets, giving Orlando a critical 95-91 edge with just over a minute left. The Celtics’ attempts to recapture the lead fell short as White’s final inbound pass was deflected, sealing the Magic’s win. Notably absent from the Celtics’ lineup was Jrue Holiday, sidelined with a strained right hamstring, while Tatum, doubtful earlier, showed his prowess but could not deliver the victory.