Everything you need to know about the Celtics' 109-98 win over the Magic with BSJ insight and analysis
HEADLINES
Kemba Walker carries shorthanded Celtics to road win: Kemba Walker scored 27 of his game-high 37 points in the first half, carrying the shorthanded Celtics back from a 16-point deficit to their third straight win over the Magic in Orlando on Friday night. Gordon Hayward added 22 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for the visitors who played without Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Enes Kanter due to injury. After a woeful defensive start in the first half, the C’s locked in on that end of the floor after intermission, limiting the Magic to 41 second-half points while riding the contributions of Hayward, Walker and Daniel Theis (season-high 16 points) in the win. Walker was superb all night in all facets of the game, adding 6 assists, 4 steals and a block while shooting over 50 percent from the field and 7-of-7 from 3-point range. His shot attempts went down in the second half when the Magic started blitzing him but that just opened up the offense for his teammates, who outscored the Magic by 15 in the second half
Hayward helps hold down the glass without Kanter: The swingman had to battle on the boards all night with his several of the team's best rebounders watching from the sidelines. Hayward responded with one of his best all-around efforts of the year, falling one board short of his career-high with 14, while also chipping in with 22 points and 5 assists in Boston's third straight win. The Celtics bounced back from an atrocious first half on the interior to outrebound Orlando 23-16 in the second half.
TURNING POINT
After a red-hot Walker went to the bench midway through the third quarter, the Celtics reserves combined with Hayward and Theis took command of the game with an 18-4 run to give the C’s a two-possession lead heading into the final frame.
TWO UP
Daniel Theis: The German big man continues to be on a roll of late, matching his season-high with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. He also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists while playing a season-high 32 minutes, serving as a much-needed third scoring option for the shorthanded C’s.
Javonte Green: His three steals helped lead to 7 easy points off the bench for him but his biggest contributions came on the defensive end where he helped limit sharpshooter Terrence Ross to 2-of-11 shooting from 3-point range.
TWO DOWN
First-quarter rebounding: Orlando’s double big lineup ate the C’s alive on the offensive glass in the first quarter as seven offensive rebounds led to 9 second-chance points over the first 12 minutes alone. Boston tightened things up in the final three frames, which helped lead to the win.
Semi Ojeleye: Just 3 points and 3 rebounds from him in 23 minutes in a night the C’s could have used some more offensive production.
TOP PLAY
Tonight's @JetBlue Play of the Game: Theis sparks the fast break and Green finishes it in style ? pic.twitter.com/SaO5MtaNYl
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 25, 2020
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
The role guys made a strong case to keep their roster spots tonight: In the event of a trade upgrade in the coming week, at least one player is going to have to go, potentially more depending on if a lot of salary is needed for matching purposes. In Boston’s losing streak last week, the team’s biggest issue was simply a lack of reliable bench depth to step up into bigger roles when this group was down bodies. Faced with a similar scenario in Orlando one week later, nearly everyone answered the bell, especially in the second half. Green was terrific defending Ross off of screens. Grant Williams played steady defense and knocked down a career-high three 3s. Vincent Poirier held his own in extended first-half minutes with Theis in foul trouble. The competition was not close to a playoff-level intensity but this should give the coaching staff some more faith that they will be able to withstand absences to key rotation pieces and still find a way to win. For one night, the need for upgrades fades a little bit.
Grant Williams is turning into one of the better shooters on the bench? The rookie forward finds himself hovering just above the 20 percent mark from 3-point range on the year which is no small feat after starting the season 0-of-25 from downtown. Since then? Williams has been the best shooter off the bench, knocking down 42 percent of his 3s to help provide some regression to the mean. The truth lies somewhere in the middle in all likelihood but the longer this stretch continues, the more likely it appears his slump to start his career was a fluke. Given all the other defensive intangibles Williams brings to the table, a steady 3-point stroke is what will guarantee him a lengthy productive NBA career. With so many of the reserves struggling from deep (Green, Wanamaker), some makes from the first-round pick help the bench offense stay functional. On Friday, he used those makes to punish the Magic for double teams on Kemba.