BSJ Game Report: Magic 113, Celtics 98 - Shorthanded C's go cold down the stretch

Everything you need to know about the Celtics' loss to the Orlando Magic, with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

Each of the first two quarters started poorly for Boston, and they needed to come back from big deficits in each to get the game close. The Celtics fell behind 11-3 in the first and 43-29 in the second, but they used a 16-1 run to take the lead back by forcing the Magic to operate in the half court instead of piling up points in transition. Orlando took a halftime lead, but the Celtics took a 68-66 lead in third when Jayson Tatum had to leave the floor due to some sort of abdominal issue. The Magic whipped off a 20-5 run to go back up 13 without him, and Boston answered by cutting it back to 2 with him. But the Celtics fell apart down the stretch, giving up a 16-3 run to end the game and their winning streak.

Box Score

HEADLINES 

Orlando loves Boston: The Magic are four games out of the 10th seed, so the Celtics had better hope that Orlando doesn’t climb in the standings. They have the size that bothers Boston and the Celtics have had trouble matching the Magic’s energy. I’m not sure why this team would walk into the game so casually after losing to Orlando twice at home, but the Celtics clearly came out too flat and had too many stretches where they simply didn’t score. 

Points in the paint: This is where the game was won. The Magic outscored Boston 30-8 in PITP through the first 16 minutes of the game. Over the next 8, Boston outscored Orlando 14-0. But in the second half, Orlando won the battle 24-10 in the second half. Boston took 43 2-pointers and 46 3-pointers. Getting to the rim was the key but Boston settled too much. 

Not enough help: Without Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, and Robert Williams, the Celtics didn’t get the kind of bench contribution they needed to win this game. The only player to drop double figures off the bench in this game was Sam Hauser. Nice recovery game from him, but not enough from the non-Jays. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 52 (26 each), everyone else combined for 46. 

TURNING POINT

The Celtics went on a 4:05 scoreless drought starting at the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter. Tatum hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 97-95, but by the time Al Horford hit the next basket, a 3 at the 2:15 mark, it was 107-98 Orlando. Jaylen Brown missed twice, Payton Pritchard stepped out of bounds on the sideline, Horford missed a 3, and Tatum missed a layup over that stretch. 

3 ½ UP

Jayson Tatum: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal, and 3 turnovers and he was the only Celtic with a positive +/- on the night (+6). The game might have been different if he was able to stay in the game in the third quarter. After the game he said the issue was some sort of cramp.

Sam Hauser: 13 points off the bench on 5-9 shooting and 3-6 from deep, and one big sigh of relief. I’d gladly trade a win if it means Hauser’s shooting getting back on track (I know that's not how it works, but still…). He’s still going to be tough defensively on some nights, and he certainly had a target on his back in this one, but I also think with Smart or Robert Williams behind him to help out, things would be different.

Payton Pritchard: He was the catalyst of a 10-3 Celtics run in the fourth quarter. He had 4 assists but mostly he was grabbing rebounds and pushing the pace and, once again, forcing everyone to keep up. 

First half Jaylen Brown: 18 points on 50% shooting from 2 and 3, 5 rebounds and 2 assists but his vision in the first half was wonderful. He played great, played with poise, and only 1 turnover gave the Celtics exactly what they needed to hang in there and cut Orlando’s lead down to just 1 going into the half. 

2½ DOWN

Second half Jaylen Brown: 8 points on 3-8 shooting (2-5 from 3, which is good), but 4 turnovers, all in the third quarter and mostly in that stretch without Tatum. They were the kinds of turnovers we’re familiar with when it comes to Brown, and he was a team-worst -21 after halftime. 

Luke Kornet: He seemed overmatched in this game. This will certainly serve as an exhibit for the case against Kornet as the third big for the Celtics in a playoff series. As a proponent of Kornet as that third big, I have to admit this hurts my case. The Celtics ended up turning to Mfiondu Kabengele later in the game hoping to get some sort of boost. 

Grant Williams: The Celtics needed someone to pick up the scoring slack, but he only took 3 shots and scored 4 points. It's just not enough. On top of that, he fouled too much and it seemed he got a little too caught up with the officiating.

TOP PLAYS

ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL REGRET LATER

- Give Orlando the credit they deserve

I’m not going to waste this space bemoaning the same things we always cry about in losses like this. They were playing without two starters and their sixth man, they started flat, had multiple long scoreless streaks and they were still within two with six minutes to go. 

Not great, but let’s just tip our caps to the long, physical Magic who have won this year’s crown as the team with a bad record that gives Boston fits.

You can be pissed off, but did you give the Detroit Pistons much thought as the Celtics were making their run to the Finals? No, you didn’t, but the Pistons were last year’s thorn in Boston’s side. 

The Magic have good talent with a bad record, but they were my choice coming into the season as the “tough out” team and they're making me look good. Paulo Banchero looks like a five-year vet, Franz Wagner is really good, Cole Anthony killed the Celtics with his energy, and Jonathan Isaac came back to give them a boost after two seasons away. 

Remember when Isaac was a cornerstone guy? 

I think the Magic are close to being a playoff team. They're finally getting it right. The Celtics were off and they lacked the requisite energy … a disappointment for sure … but the Magic won’t let you get away with that kind of attitude. 

Next up: The Celtics take on the Miami Heat on the back-to-back tomorrow night.