Boston Celtics (22-6) at Orlando Magic (18-12) Game #28 12/23/24

The Celtics are on the highway for final recreation earlier than their Christmas Day recreation. They face the Orlando Magic for the primary of three video games this season. They may meet two extra occasions, as soon as in Boston on January seventeenth and as soon as extra in Orlando on April 9. The Celtics had been simply 2-1 in opposition to the Magic final season, shedding their lone recreation within the sequence in Orlando and profitable each video games in Boston.

The Celtics are 75-55 general, all time in opposition to the Magic and they’re 26-37 in video games performed in Orlando. The Celtics have misplaced their final 2 video games that they performed in Orlando. These 2 groups are perpetually linked collectively of their histories. The ultimate recreation performed on the Boston Backyard was in opposition to the Orlando Magic in Recreation 4 of the 1995 NBA Playoffs. The Magic secured a 95-92 win, marking the top of the Boston Backyard’s 67-year operation and it additionally marked the primary time in franchise historical past that the Magic gained a playoff sequence and superior to the second spherical.

The Celtics are 2nd within the East, 2.5 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers. They’re 4 video games forward of the third place Knicks and 5 video games forward of the 4th place Magic. They’re 11- at house and 7-3 of their final 10 video games. They’re 20-4 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. The Magic are 4th within the East, 7.5 video games out of first place and 5 video games behind 2nd place Boston. They’re 1.5 video games forward of fifth place Milwaukee. They’re 11-2 at house and 5-5 of their final 10 video games. They’re 14-7 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups. Each groups are on the lookout for their 2nd straight win.

After this recreation in Orlando, the Celtics will return house to play the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day, which would be the first recreation of a 4 recreation house stand. After Philly, they’ll face Indian twice and Toronto. They may then head out on a 4 recreation Western highway journey by way of Minnesota, Houston (and Ime Udoka), Oklahoma Metropolis and Denver. They may return house to face 2 extra Western groups, Sacramento and New Orleans. They then head to Toronto earlier than dealing with Orlando and Atlanta at house.

This recreation for the Magic is the 4th recreation of a 7 recreation highway journey. They misplaced the primary two video games to the Knicks and Thunder after which beat the Warmth on Saturday. They may end the house stand in opposition to Miami, New York and Brooklyn. They may then play at Detroit and at Toronto earlier than one recreation at house in opposition to Utah, one recreation on the highway in opposition to New York and residential once more in opposition to Minnesota, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia.

The Celtics ought to have their beginning 5 wholesome. The one participant on the damage report is Sam Hauser, who’s questionable as a result of again spasms. His standing can be a recreation time resolution. For the Magic, Jalen Suggs is questionable as a result of an ankle damage he suffered in opposition to the Thunder on Thursday. He missed Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Warmth and can be a recreation time resolution for this one. If he can’t play Anthony Black will doubtless get the beginning in his place.

Mac McClung is questionable with a leg damage and Gary Harris is questionable with a hamstring damage. Each can be a recreation time resolution. The Magic will even be with out 3 of their prime gamers. Paolo Banchero is out with a torn proper indirect. Franz Wagner can be out with a torn proper indirect. Franz’ older brother, former Celtic Moritz Wagner, tore his ACL after simply 2 minutes of play in Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Warmth and is out for the remainder of the season.

Possible Celtics Starters

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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis

Celtics ReservesLuke KornetAl HorfordPayton PritchardNeemias QuetaBaylor ScheiermanJaden SpringerJordan WalshXavier Tillman

2 Method PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson

Accidents/OutSam Hauser (again) questionable

Head CoachJoe Mazzulla

Possible Magic Starters

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PG: Jalen SuggsSG: Kentavious Caldwell-PopeSF: Tristan da Silva PF: Wendell Carter, JrC: Goga Bitadze

Magic ReservesCole AnthonyAnthony BlackCaleb HoustanJett HowardJonathan IsaacCory Joseph

2-Method Gamers Mac McClungTrevelin Queen

Accidents/OutPaolo Banchero (indirect) outFranz Wagner (indirect) outMoritz Wagner (knee) out Gary Harris (hamstring) questionable Mac McClung (leg) questionable Jalen Suggs (ankle) questionable

Head Coach Jamahl Mosley

Key Matchups

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Payton Pritchard


Photograph by Greg Fiume/Getty Pictures

Cole Anthony


Photograph by Nic Antaya/Getty Pictures

Payton Pritchard vs Cole Anthony With each Wagners and Banchero out, Anthony has stepped up for the Magic off the bench. He’s averaging 6.2 factors, 2.2 rebounds, and a couple of.2 assists per recreation. He’s capturing 40.4% from the sphere and 30.6% from past the arc. Nonetheless, on Saturday, he completed with 35 factors, 8 rebounds, 9 assists 1 steal and 1 block whereas capturing 52% from the sphere and 25% on 3s. He has had massive video games in opposition to the Celtics prior to now and they also want to concentrate to him on protection.

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Kristaps Porzingis


Photograph by Adam Glanzman/Getty Pictures

Goga Bitadze


Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Pictures

Kristaps Porzingis vs Goga Bitadze Bitadze is averaging 9.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 blocks per recreation. He’s capturing 65.4% from the sphere and 0% from the perimeter. On Saturday, he additionally stepped up with their prime 2 scorers out, ending with 18 factors, 13 rebounds, 1 help and a couple of blocks whereas capturing 100% from the sphere however didn’t take a 3. The Celtics want to attract him out to the perimeter on protection as he is an efficient rim protector and rebounder and they should preserve him out of the paint on offense.

Honorable MentionJrue Vacation vs Jalen Suggs Suggs is averaging 16 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block per recreation. He’s capturing 40.5% from the sphere and 31% from past the arc. He missed Saturday’s recreation after injuring his ankle in Thursday’s recreation. He’s questionable for this recreation. If he can’t play, Anthony Black ought to get the beginning in his place. Black is averaging 8.7 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists per recreation whereas capturing 42.7% from the sphere and 27% from past the arc.

Keys to the GameDefense – I can’t say it sufficient, however protection is all the time the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are eighth the league with a defensive score of 109.5. The Magic are third within the league with a defensive score of 106.5. The Magic are twenty eighth in scoring at 106.8 factors per recreation. They’ve been profitable with their protection and if the Celtics hope to beat them, they should play robust lock down protection themselves.

Rebound – Rebounding can be essential if a staff desires to win video games. You may’t rating in case you don’t have the ball and one of the best ways to get the ball is to seize rebounds to present themselves additional possessions. A lot of rebounding is effort and hustle and if the Celtics put the additional effort into grabbing rebounds, they normally present effort in all elements of the sport. The Celtics are 14-1 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents and 8-5 when they’re out-rebounded. The Celtics want to present additional effort on the boards on this recreation.

Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics are inclined to let up after they face groups which might be lacking stars. With each Wagners and Banchero out on this one, the Celtics might underestimate this Magic staff and are available out with lower than 100% effort. That may be a mistake as a result of this similar brief handed Magic staff beat the Warmth on Saturday. The Celtics have to play this staff as laborious as they’d the highest staff within the league at full energy.

Keep Centered – The Celtics want to remain targeted and deal with the ball. The Magic are third within the league with 20.4 factors off turnovers. The Celtics can’t free focus and switch the ball over or the Magic will make them pay. In addition they should keep targeted on enjoying the sport the proper method and never enable dangerous calls to get into their heads and make them lose their composure. In addition they have to remain targeted on taking good photographs and making them. If the 3s aren’t falling, they should get into the paint.

X-Elements Highway Recreation and injuries- The Celtics are enjoying on the highway. They’re dealing with distractions of journey and enjoying in an unfamiliar enviornment in entrance of hostile followers. They should shake off these distractions and preserve their concentrate on enjoying the sport. Normally accidents to an opponent’s finest gamers is motive to anticipate a simple win, however for some motive, that tends to be an equation for the Celtics to play a lackluster recreation and lose to a staff they need to beat.

Officiating – Officiating can all the time be an X-Issue. In some video games, you don’t even discover the referees and in different video games, they appear to make the sport all about them (see the primary recreation in opposition to the Bulls). Some crews name the sport tight and others let the groups play. Some crews favor one of many groups whereas others name it pretty. Irrespective of how the sport known as, the Celtics should regulate to the way in which the sport is being referred to as and never enable the officiating to remove from their focus.

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