Boston Celtics Beat Orlando Magic in Game 1 of Playoffs
The Boston Celtics started their playoff journey with a solid 103-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Derrick White was the star of the game, scoring 30 points and hitting seven three-pointers.
Despite strong performances from Orlando’s Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner—who scored a combined 59 points—the Magic could not keep up in the second half. Boston stepped up their game after the break to secure a comfortable victory at home.
Boston came into the game with a 61-21 regular season record, but Orlando had beaten them twice in three meetings earlier in the year. The game began with Franz Wagner scoring the first basket, and both teams traded points in a tight opening.
The Magic’s physical defence, which had troubled the Celtics in the regular season, was effective again. However, Derrick White helped Boston find their rhythm with five quick points and a 7-0 run. The Celtics led 26-18 at the end of the first quarter, with White on 8 points and both Banchero and Wagner scoring 7 each.
In the second quarter, Payton Pritchard gave the Celtics an early boost with six quick points. Wagner responded for the Magic, attacking the basket and hitting key shots. Orlando then went on a 9-0 run and eventually took the lead after a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope three-pointer. Banchero was on fire, scoring from all over the court. At half-time, the Magic led 49-48.
Banchero had 19 points by the break, while Wagner added 15. Together, they scored 34 of Orlando’s 49 points. Their defence made life difficult for Boston, and they dominated the rebounds with 10 offensive boards. White led the Celtics with 16 points at the half, and Pritchard added 11, while key players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis were yet to make a real impact.
Boston came out strong in the third quarter, going on a 6-0 run to retake the lead. White made a four-point play, and Jrue Holiday added a steal and a three-pointer to push the lead to double digits. After a quiet first half, Holiday scored 9 points in the third, including an alley-oop assist to Brown.
The Celtics’ defence improved, and they began to score in transition. The crowd at TD Garden got louder as Boston extended their lead to 17 points. Although Orlando closed the quarter well, the Celtics still led 78-67 going into the final period.
White stayed sharp in the fourth, hitting another three. Pritchard followed with one of his own to restore the 17-point lead. Banchero kept fighting and scored consistently, but Boston remained in control.
There was a worrying moment when Tatum was fouled on a dunk attempt and landed awkwardly on his wrist. However, he stayed in the game and later hit a deep three-pointer, followed by another from White. Boston led by 19, which sealed the game. The starters were rested in the final minute as the Celtics comfortably closed out the match.
The Boston Celtics now lead the series 1-0 after a strong second-half showing. Derrick White finished with 30 points, including 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. Pritchard contributed 19 points off the bench. Tatum recovered from a poor start to end with 17 points and 14 rebounds, though his wrist may be something to monitor going forward.
For the Magic, Banchero had an outstanding game with 36 points and 11 rebounds, while Wagner added 23. However, the rest of the team struggled offensively, as the duo scored most of Orlando’s points. Despite the loss, the Magic’s defence and star duo could still make this a tough series for the Celtics.
