Boston responds, Celtics take 3-1 series lead over Orlando

The Celtics are coming again to Boston with a 3-1 lead after a 107-98 victory over the Orlando Magic. After a dismal second half in Sport 3, the Celtics performed significantly better from begin to end, from massive defensive performs from Al Horford to Jayson Tatum arising clutch late within the sport.

The Celtics at the moment are one sport away from advancing to the convention semifinals. Tatum completed with a game-high 37 factors, 14 rebounds, and 14-of-14 on the free throw line to guide Boston.

Boston’s offense began 1-of-8 from the ground with Derrick White’s opening layup the one made basket within the first three minutes of the sport.

The 2-man sport of White and Kristaps Porzingis began to come back alive, as White fed the rolling Porzingis for consecutive dunks. Nonetheless, halfway by way of the quarter, Orlando had a 13-8 lead on the first timeout with 6:41 remaining.

Tatum’s pull-up three made it an 8-0 run with 4:34 remaining to tie the sport at 18. The three was Boston’s first. Then on the following possession, after a Horford block, Sam Hauser lastly related on a nook three to present Boston the lead 21-18.

The three gave Hauser confidence as his subsequent shot he pulled up from deep with no hesitation and drilled it once more.

The Celtics took a 32-29 lead after the primary quarter. Boston had a five-point lead after a Derrick White layup with 5 seconds left, however nobody picked up Anthony Black who went coast to coast to beat the buzzer.

Boston shot 3-of-12 from three and 13-of-26 from the sphere within the quarter. Tatum led the C’s with 10 factors and 5 rebounds. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 12 factors (4-of-7 from the free-throw line).

The White and Porzingis connection continued to start out the second quarter, this time Porzingis being the supplier with an exquisite cross to White for the and-1.

Jaylen Brown struggled within the first half making simply one in every of his first seven photographs. Nonetheless, Porzingis began 4-of-8 with 10 factors earlier than he drilled a giant three to extend the result in 9 (42-33) with 7:45 left within the half and with Tatum on the bench. Earlier than that three, Porzingis was 0-for-11 from deep within the collection.

Regardless of the nice begin for Porzingis, he picked up his third foul and needed to go to the bench after an offensive foul on Cory Joseph. Mazzulla challenged the decision, however it was unsuccessful.

Orlando tied the sport at 46 after a KCP three, Wagner layup, and Joseph three with below 4 minutes left. Then with 3:18 left, Banchero made a layup to take the lead for a 10-0 run. The momentum was with the Magic till they’d a 4-on-1 and Derrick White bought the cease resulting in a Brown layup.

Tatum drilled a step-back three over Wendell Carter Jr. with 5.5 seconds left to present Boston a five-point lead at halftime, 53-48.

Boston shot 5-of-18 from three and 21-of-45 from the sphere within the half, whereas Orlando shot 5-of-15 behind the arc and 18-of-43 general.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 15 factors and eight rebounds, whereas Banchero had 18 factors (6-of-17 capturing) and 4 rebounds to guide the Magic.

The chippiness of the collection continued because the refs reviewed a possible flagrant on Wendell Carter Jr. three minutes into the second half. The groups bought into one another’s faces, however after the overview, the refs determined it was only a widespread foul sending White to the road with Boston main by one.

With 6:53 left within the quarter, Boston held a 62-58 lead, all with Porzingis on the bench since Kornet began the second half with the Latvian having three fouls. Porzingis checked into the second half after the timeout.

After a struggling first half, Brown began to warmth up within the quarter with six of his 14 coming within the first six minutes within the third. He additionally stepped up his defensive sport, taking up the problem of guarding Banchero.

Porzingis picked up his fourth foul on a Banchero drive with 2:57 remaining within the third, forcing Kornet to exchange him.

Boston bought within the bonus with 2:09 remaining after Brown was fouled after a defensive rebound. Brown made each free throws to make it a seven-point lead, 76-69. On the following possession, Tatum was fouled and he made each free throws for a nine-point result in cap a 9-1 run.

Tatum’s jumper on the buzzer went in-and-out and Boston took a 79-75 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Celtics had been aggressive to start out the ultimate 12 minutes of regulation as White related with a 3 earlier than Tatum bought post-position on his man and hit the jumper to regain the seven-point lead 84-77.

Porzingis picked up his fifth foul with 8:58 left as Wagner drove straight into KP for an And-1 to chop Boston’s result in two, 84-82 after the free throw.

The Magic referred to as a timeout after an Al Horford offensive rebound which led to a layup from Derrick White with 6:21 remaining and a five-point Celtics lead (91-86).

Al Horford picked up his fourth block of the night time after a giant rejection which bought the Celtics bench fired up.

The Magic tied the sport after an offensive rebound and put again from Wendell Carter Jr. with 4:15 remaining.

Porzingis checked again into the sport and instantly made a play on the rim with a dunk and foul by Banchero.

Tatum scored his thirtieth level on a post-up fadeaway on Banchero to present Boston a 98-92 lead with below three minutes. Then on the following possession, Tatum bought Banchero to foul him whereas he was capturing a three-pointer with 2:19 remaining. Tatum related on all three free throws to present them a 101-92 lead.

Al Horford got here up massive defensively late within the sport selecting up his fifth block and forcing a turnover. Then Payton Pritchard got here up with an offensive rebound with a minute left which led to Tatum getting fouled. Then the refs gave out a double technical to KCP and Tatum earlier than Tatum hit each free throws. The Magic delayed the inevitable by persevering with to foul and Boston made their free throws to take a 3-1 lead again to Boston.