Orlando has recovered from a 12-point deficit to put itself in a solid position to advance in the In-Season Tournament.
During Friday’s game in Orlando, Florida, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero slips in between Celtics player Al Horford and lower-left player Jaylen Brown to attempt a basket.The Associated Press/John Raoux
Orlando, Florida — In the NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament, Group C in the Eastern Conference was up for grabs when Moritz Wagner scored 27 points and the Orlando Magic defeated the Boston Celtics 113-96 on Friday to win their sixth straight game.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 23 points and seven rebounds. Franz Wagner finished with seventeen points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Cole Anthony scored sixteen points after coming off the bench.
At 26 points, Jayson Tatum lead Boston. After scoring 12 points in the first ten minutes, Jaylen Brown scored 18 points, but he only hit 2 of his 16 shots.
After Boston had built a 62-50 lead early in the third quarter, Jalen Suggs scored two of the Magic’s four 3-pointers during a 17-0 comeback. During the run that turned the game around, the Celtics missed eight shots and went 4:42 without scoring.
In group play, the Magic and Celtics concluded with a 3-1 record, while the Brooklyn Nets are 2-1 before of their game against Toronto on Tuesday. After Friday’s game, the Magic have a plus-17 point advantage over the Celtics in group play, while the latter have a zero.
After scoring nine points and grabbing four rebounds in the third quarter, Boston center Kristaps Porzingis departed the game due to stiffness in his left calf.
Jrue Holiday, who missed his first game of the season due to a sprained right ankle, was another player whom the Celtics were missing.
After a first quarter in which Orlando shot 8 for 22 and committed eight mistakes, Boston took an early 11-point lead in the second quarter thanks to a 3-pointer by Sam Hauser.
After the Magic responded with a 15–4 run to level the game at 40–40, the Celtics took the lead once more, leading 56–48 at the half.
Next
WHO: Boston Celtics versus Atlanta Hawks
WHEN: Sunday at 6 p.m.
TV: NBCSB
