Apr 20, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) controls the ball whereas the Orlando Magic defend in the course of the second half at TD Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Photographs The Orlando Magic might be on the lookout for extra secondary scoring Wednesday after they go to the Boston Celtics for Game 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, heart Wendell Carter Jr. had 4 factors and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope completed with six.
“Our means to be sure that after we get the rebound or we do flip them over, we’ve got to ensure we convert,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “It’s a must to get simple baskets when you’ve 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 group we harped on coming in, is that they do have two principal guys, nevertheless it’s actually the opposite guys that kill you,” Banchero mentioned. “I believe we simply need to do a greater job of getting these guys off the road as a result of they actually kill you from three. … You do an excellent job on the primary guys, however a number of the function guys on the wings, they kill you. So, we’ve got to do a greater job taking them away.”
Boston trailed 49-48 at halftime, however outscored Orlando 30-18 in the third and 25-19 in the fourth.
“Wanting again at it, that momentum shift in the third quarter was massive,” Mosley mentioned. “Us being deliberate and intentional in a few of our defensive communication items … (we) had a pair mishaps. That is what bought to their spark.
“We have to push that ball up the ground so much quicker so we’re not sitting down enjoying towards a set switching protection.”
Brown scored 10 of his 16 factors in the third quarter. Jrue Vacation added 9 factors in the third quarter after failing to attain in the primary half.
“I believe that in the primary half, (the Magic) type of managed the depth degree of the sport,” Brown mentioned. “They have been extra bodily than us, and in the second half, we type of shifted that.”
The Celtics had a momentary scare early in the fourth quarter when Tatum drove to the basket and was fouled exhausting by Caldwell-Pope. Tatum landed awkwardly on his proper wrist and remained on the ground in apparent discomfort, however remained in the sport.
Tatum mentioned his X-ray got here again detrimental, and he was feeling higher after the sport.
“I simply landed on it,” he mentioned. “It was throbbing for a second, then type of went away.”
Following Game 2, the best-of-seven collection will shift to Orlando for Game 3 (Friday) and Game 4 (Sunday).
“The purpose is to attempt to get one (on the highway),” Banchero mentioned. “Game 2 we’ve got to return out with a better degree of focus and simply do what we will do to get a win on the highway as a result of we aren’t profitable this collection until we do. So, that is the purpose.”
–Discipline Degree Media
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