Celtics 107-98 Magic (Apr 27, 2025) Game Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. — — Jayson Tatum had 37 factors and 14 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 21 factors and 11 rebounds and the Boston Celtics took a 3-1 lead of their NBA playoff collection with a 107-98 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night time.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 factors, together with a dunk of his personal missed layup that put Boston forward for retains with 3:58 left.

Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 31 factors.

Recreation 5 of the best-of-7 first-round collection shall be performed Tuesday night time in Boston.

“This was a big win on the road in a tough, physical environment against a team that’s been eager to take us out,” Brown stated. “It’s not over. We’ve got to close it out because we don’t want to come back here.”

Derrick White completed with 18 factors, seven rebounds and 7 assists for the Celtics. Al Horford blocked 5 photographs.

Franz Wagner had 24 factors and 7 assists for Orlando. Corey Joseph added 12 factors, the very best scoring output for a Magic guard within the collection.

The 7-foot-3 Porzingis, who performed solely 22 minutes resulting from foul bother, helped Boston overcome taking pictures 9 for 31 from 3-point vary with dominant inside play within the first half.

“I think he set the tone for us in the half-court game,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “I thought he got us off to a great start offensively with his screening and his ability to get to the rim.”

The Magic shot 8 for 29 from behind the arc.

A dunk by Porzingis began an 18-3 run halfway via the primary half. A 3-pointer by Porzingis gave the Celtics a nine-point lead, matching the biggest lead of the sport, with 7:45 left within the second quarter.

The Magic by no means led after that, though a dunk by Wendell Carter Jr. tied the sport at 91 with 4:18 remaining. The Celtics took over from there, profitable for the primary time in Orlando since October 2022. Tatum hit a 10-footer, three straight free throws and a layup to shortly restore a seven-point Boston lead.

“Their experience showed,” stated Banchero, who shot 12 for 32 however scored 30-plus factors for the sixth time in his 11 postseason video games. “They weren’t rattled at all. They were making big plays on both ends. They were really sharp over the last four minutes.”

Boston guard Jrue Vacation sat out a second straight recreation with a strained proper hamstring.

AP NBA: