BSJ Game Report: Magic 95, Celtics 93 - Tatum's 36 the lone bright spot in gross Game 3 loss

ORLANDO -- Everything you need to know about the Celtics' loss to Orlando in Game 3 of their opening-round series, with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

Jayson Tatum looked dominant early but things fell apart halfway through the first and Orlando took a four-point lead into the second quarter. Things flipped in the second when Orlando went cold halfway through and Boston went on a big run to take a 10-point halftime lead. The third was a complete disaster, perhaps their worst of the season, and it put them down three heading into the fourth. The Celtics had plenty of chances in the fourth, tying it with 2:31 to go, but they only scored once more the rest of the way. 

Box Score

 HEADLINES

- Rough offensive night: The Celtics took 74 shots, mostly because they turned the ball over 21 times for 26 Magic points. The Magic took 83, benefiting from not only the turnovers but 15 offensive rebounds. The Celtics' offensive rating in this game was 102.2, which was three points worse than league’s worst offense this season. Orlando’s defense is good, but the Celtics' offense was horrible.

- Supporting cast struggles: The first two games were won by the better supporting cast and Boston’s struggled mightily in this game. The Celtics got 21 combined points from Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet. That's all. 

“They did a great job just being physical at the point of attack, not helping as much, shutting other guys down,” Joe Mazzulla said after the game. “They did a good job of helping when necessary, but then not over-helping. That's something that we knew they were going to do, and we just have to be better at that.”

- Tatum returns: He was doubtful to start the day but they upgraded him before the game and he played incredibly well. 

“Just dealing with pain tolerance,” he said. “I felt like I could try to go out there and play."

We’ll see how it progresses, but it didn’t seem to bother him much at all. 

TURNING POINT 

The third quarter was such a mess that it’s too hard to ignore it as a turning point in this game. Even though the Celtics came back and had a chance to win in the last couple of minutes, they wouldn’t have been in that situation had they been able to get ANYTHING going in the third quarter. All they needed to do was hit a few shots, like more than three, and they could have been in much better position down the stretch. 

THINGS I LIKED

- Jayson Tatum: He certainly fired up some tough shots that didn't fall but coming back from the bone bruise to drop 36/9/4 on 45/40/100 shooting was pretty amazing. He was dominant early in the game and I thought he was on his way to a 50-piece. It’s too bad he didn’t, because that's what Boston needed. 

The seven turnovers were a problem though. That can’t happen. More turnovers than assists is never a good thing. 

- Luke Kornet: He was huge in the second quarter, though he didn’t do a ton after that. 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

… Buckle up … 

- The third quarter: Just disgusting. The worst basketball I’ve seen from these guys in a long time. 

"We just got stagnant,” Tatum said. “We've just got to play with some more pace and movement. That's when we're just at our best."

We’ve been waiting for that for three games. Any time you want to do that is fine with all of us on this side of the court. Boston shot 3-17, 1-8 from 3, and turned it over six times.

- Kristaps Porzingis: An absolutely brutal game for Porzingis, who scored just seven points on 3-10 shooting. He was awful. When he was asked if he had any lingering effects from the elbow to the head, he said “by the way I played, it looked like it.” 

File that under “laugh so you don’t cry.” 

There are a dozen things that could have gone better for Boston, but a normal game from Porzingis wins them this game going away. 

- Payton Pritchard: This is the type of performance I think of when I say there are some matchups where he’s just not effective. He needs the floor to be spread and to play off other players to have his best nights. Trying to do as much as he did against this defense was a recipe for disaster. 

- Sam Hauser: He has to do something. Anything. 

- Derrick White: Overall nice game with 16 points and five assists, including Boston’s last two buckets. But he had a supporting role kind of game that really called for more of a starring performance. I just wish that couple of those late 3-pointers fell. 

- Jaylen Brown: 19 points on 50% shooting seems good enough, but six turnovers and a LOT of complaining to the refs. His frustrations were evident the whole night. 

HIGHLIGHTS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- I TOLD you that the fadeaway shot could have been Tatum’s MVP shot. 

I spent half the season saying how Tatum post fadeaways would be the shot he needed to perfect to be a next-level-elite scorer. I said over and over again how that shot is a playoff shot and if he could master it, it would unlock the next level in his game. 

How many of those fadeaways did he miss in this game? If he hit half of them we’d be talking about Tatum being the hero of this game down the stretch. Instead, he missed a bunch of them and the Celtics fell short. 

That shot is the one thing he needs to nail down moving forward. He needs that thing to be Kevin Durant-automatic because on nights when nothing else is falling, that shot will ALWAYS be there. Tatum can get that shot away against any defense. Perfect that shot and he’ll be able to rely on it on a night like this when he was so close to carrying the C’s to a win they didn’t deserve. 

- They really missed Jrue Holiday. 

I wrote in my live coverage post that Holiday was lowkey Boston’s most important player in the first two games and I think tonight showed exactly why. He was the guy who got the stops Boston couldn't get in the third quarter. He was the guy who hit the big shots Boston was missing.

I always call him the adult in the room because he always understands what Boston needs and he’s good enough to deliver it. 

Five minutes of Jrue Holiday in the third quarter might have won Boston this game. 

Next up: Game 4 is Sunday night at 7 in Orlando.