Orlando Magic (23-19) at Boston Celtics (28-12) Game #41 1/17/25

The Celtics return house from a depressing efficiency in Toronto, taking up the Orlando Magic for the second time this season. The primary matchup between the 2 got here on Dec. 23, when a shorthanded Orlando group pulled away within the fourth quarter for a 108-104 win.

The Celtics are 6-4 of their final 10 video games and 4-3 within the month of January, most not too long ago getting outplayed by the 10-31 Toronto Raptors in a 110-97 defeat on Wednesday. The Celtics stay six video games again of the first-seed Cleveland Cavaliers, however maintain a two-game benefit over the three-seeded New York Knicks.

The Magic, in the meantime, have managed to stay round within the playoff race regardless of accidents to a number of rotation gamers and their two major scoring choices in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Banchero returned to motion on Jan. 10 after a two-month absence, with the Magic going 1-2 in his video games again on the ground. They at present maintain the five-seed within the Jap Convention standings.

Damage Information

The Celtics have a clear invoice of well being getting into tonight’s matchup.

The Magic will once more be with out some key figures after they tackle the reigning champs.

Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Gary Harris have all been out for vital stretches, whereas Goga Bitadze shall be lacking his second straight sport after getting into concussion protocol.

Key Matchups

Paolo Banchero vs. Jayson Tatum

In his first three video games again within the lineup after an indirect pressure, Paolo Banchero has performed a smaller quantity of minutes in comparison with his standard time on the ground, however the Duke product has nonetheless maintained that aggressive battering-ram play model that’s made him one of many prime younger abilities within the league. He’s at present averaging 25.3 factors per sport in his three video games again, whereas capturing 49% from the sphere with 6.7 rebounds and three.7 assists. It’ll be the primary faceoff between the 2 Duke forwards this season.

Wendell Carter Jr. vs. Kristaps Porzingis

With Goga Bitadze sidelined, count on to see lots of Wendell Carter Jr. on this contest. WCJ was productive within the first assembly in opposition to Boston, capturing 5-of-8 from the sphere for 11 factors to go together with seven rebounds and 4 assists. A keen shooter that’s having a career-worst season from the perimeter (20% 3P), Carter has no issues pulling it from past the arc, however his means as a glass-crasher shall be an space that Porzingis must account for.

Cole Anthony vs. Derrick White

The Magic being down a number of backcourt choices means one other prolonged look for Cole Anthony, who is usually a microwave scorer on any given night time. Anthony’s utilization and effectivity are all down from previous seasons, however in opposition to Boston, he stepped up, scoring 10 factors with 5 assists in Orlando’s win, ending as a +10. Derrick White dealt with that matchup for many of their first assembly, with Anthony making two of his three makes an attempt over the All-Defensive Workforce guard.

Currently, Anthony has seen his minutes skyrocket because of the group’s quite a few accidents, averaging 32 minutes an evening in his previous six video games, scoring 17 factors on 44/32/68 splits.

Keys to the Sport

Make your open photographs: The capturing droop has felt team-wide throughout Boston’s tough interval of play. Since Jan. 1, the Celtics are second in open 3-point frequency (4-6 ft of area) but are simply twenty first in effectivity on these seems to be (33.6%). Towards the league’s second-rated protection in Orlando, one that enables the fewest 3-point makes and makes an attempt within the league, open photographs would possibly really feel tougher to come back by, however after they do come accessible, the Celtics need to make the Magic pay.

Look ahead to aggressive protection: Orlando has a top-tier protection for a purpose, even with the rotation continuously shapeshifting to account for his or her harm troubles. Of their earlier matchup, the Magic hounded the ball, disrupting the Celtics’ drive-and-kick sport and turning practically each fourth quarter possession right into a dogfight. Orlando has compelled opponents to show the ball over a median of 17 occasions a sport this season, third finest within the league. Regardless of who is obtainable for Orlando, they make their opponents work to attain buckets. The Celtics need to be prepared for energetic arms on any form of drive to the paint.

Defend the paint: Orlando’s offensive sports activities the worst 3-point capturing within the league, and it’s not notably shut. As a group, they shoot simply 31% from distance, with the closest “competitor” in that regard being the Washington Wizards and their 33% success charge. Regardless of that, the Magic are a reliable paint-attacking unit, particularly with Paolo Banchero on the ground, who makes 55% of his photographs inside 10 ft. With Al Horford and Porzingis each accessible together with Luke Kornet, Boston’s bigs must disrupt Orlando’s makes an attempt on the cup, whereas the remainder of Boston’s rotation wants to speak and keep away from defensive lapses that finish in open cuts to the rim.