The Magic snapped a 14-game losing streak at the TD Garden on Sunday afternoon, beating the East's best team 103-95 despite a game-high 40 points for Kyrie Irving. A back-and-forth first half was turned into a blowout by Orlando thanks to a 32-12 edge in the third quarter. The Celtics made things interesting late with some more intense defense (13 fourth quarter points for Orlando) but they didn't have enough scorers show up outside of Irving to make up the deficit.
The Celtics have now lost three straight games for the first time all season and will be heading out on a four-game west coast trip on the heels of their worst loss of the season.
GAME: No. 47 of 82
WHO: Celtics (34-12) vs. Magic (13-32)
WHEN: 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden
RADIO: 100.7 WZLX
TV: NBC SPORTS BOSTON
BOX SCORE: NBA.COM
Celtics
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Aron Baynes
Magic
PG: Elfrid Payton
SG: Evan Fournier
F: Jonathan Simmons
F: Aaron Gordon
C: Bismack Biyombo
Second Half Notes
- There have been a fair amount of contenders lately but the third quarter of Sunday's matinee may have marked the worst quarter of basketball we've seen from the Celtics this season.
- A combination of horrific defense (26 points in paint for Magic) and ugly offensive execution (eight turnovers) opened the door for the hosts to blow open the game with a 32-12 edge over the hosts.
- Celtics also shot just 23 percent from the field in the frame, while the Magic played a pretty close to flawless (1 turnover, 60 percent shooting) in the third quarter against the NBA's best defense to open up a 19-point lead at one point.
- This was the Kyrie and Jaylen show for the first eight minutes of this contest. The two guards combined for 23 of the C's first 25 points of the game. Irving showed no signs of rust after his one-game absence, scoring 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting in just nine minutes before hitting the bench.
- Marcus Morris got the start in place of Aron Baynes and did not do much to help the C's offensive woes early. He was 1-of-3 from the field and his usual ball stopping self.
- The bench guards continue to be the biggest problem for the C's on the offensive end, with Rozier and Smart combining for 2-of-7 on an array of midrange jumpers.
- Semi Ojeleye got an early chance back in the rotation and his presence did not help things much on either end. C's aren't hitting open jumpers right now with their reserve unit and that's a problem.
- The Magic have showed some signs of life over the past week despite their putrid record and that trend has continued in the first half. The bench combined to score 23 of Orlando's first 45 points despite being lead by names such as Shelvin Mack and D.J. Augustin.
- The Magic have always played sloppy defense but the Celtics matched them in several instances in transition this half, failing to mark shooters that led to easy opportunities and drives.
- Luckily for them, Irving remained hot in the final minutes of the opening half (9-of-12 from field) allowing C's to close the half with a 12-4 run to take a 59-58 lead into the break.
- Kyrie Irving will return to the starting lineup after a one-game absence due to a sore left shoulder. Aron Baynes (illness) went through walkthrough and is a game-time decision to play. Marcus Morris will start in his place if he can't go.
- The Celtics have won 14 consecutive home games against the Magic dating back to January 2011.
- The Celtics are in the midst of a two-game losing streak for just the third time this season. They have not lost three straight games all year, one of only five teams in the NBA with that kind of consistency to date.
- The Magic are tied for the worst record in the league (13-32) despite starting the season with a 6-3 mark.