The Celtics Kick Out the Magic and Await the Winner of the Knicks-Pistons

Boston Celtics triumph over Orlando Magic by 120-89, advancing the defending champions to the second round after finishing the series 4-1. They await the winner of Knicks-Pistons: yesterday, the Detroit team won at Madison Square Garden, forcing a sixth game to be played this Thursday at the Little Caesars Arena.

With 1:15 remaining in the second quarter of the fifth game against Orlando, Jayson Tatum slammed the ball on the TD Garden floor in frustration. He had just fouled Paolo Banchero, who completed a three-point play to extend Magic's lead, showcasing their dominance in a series where Boston struggled to find their rhythm. Up to that point, the Celtics—leading the league in three-pointers—had not scored a single one, accumulated turnovers, and appeared overwhelmed by their opponent's physicality.

Before the season began, many believed that destabilizing the champions meant taking away their three-pointers and forcing them to adapt to a different style. The East's seventh seed was rigorously testing that theory. Nevertheless, despite one of their most frustrating halves this season, Boston went into halftime only two points behind.

Everything changed at the beginning of the third quarter, when Banchero committed three quick fouls and was benched with five personals remaining at 9:46. With Magic's primary offensive threat sidelined, the Celtics capitalized, embarking on a 30-9 run—including a devastating 24-4 spurt to close the quarter—and securing a 120-89 victory to close out the series 4-1, advancing to the next round where they will face the winner between the Knicks and Pistons.

The 31-point win marks the largest comeback from a halftime deficit in NBA playoff history and is also the Celtics' most significant victory under such circumstances. They achieved this without relying on their trademark outside shooting, despite facing a series filled with adversity: Tatum played through a wrist injury from the first game, Porzingis suffered a cut on his forehead in the second, Brown dislocated a finger in the third and continues to deal with knee issues, while Jrue Holiday missed the last three games due to a thigh strain.

"It was probably exactly what we needed," reflected Tatum, who recorded 35 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. "A tough test in the first round. Some of us are banged up, but we showed mental toughness, did what was necessary, and found ways to win. That's all that matters at this time of year. As a group, we've been through it all, and we proved it in this series."

Brown, adding 23 points, also acknowledged the significant physical challenge. "It was a great experience playing an entire series being physical, getting dirty, rebounding, taking hard fouls, and finding ways to overcome it. Many said that the key was to take away our three-pointer and play tough. I think we responded well, and that's something we take with us for what lies ahead."

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla also praised his team's resilience against Orlando's approach. "They had to deal with our defense and intensity as well. That was the key in the series: the physical battle. Every series teaches lessons, and we need to apply them going forward."

Boston, who averaged 17.8 three-pointers made per game in the regular season, failed to make any in the first half—a rare occurrence since October 2021—and attempted only six, their lowest in a while. However, they closed out the game with 13 of 18 in the second half, reigniting the crowd's enthusiasm as they returned to their typical style.

Brown and Tatum combined for 24 points in the third quarter, nearly double what Magic scored in the entire period (13). Tatum's performance marked his third consecutive game with at least 35 points, matching a record set by Larry Bird in 1987. He also joined Bird as the sole players in franchise history to record 35 points and 10 assists in a series-deciding game.

Reflecting on his season after last year's title, Tatum shared, "It's been the most relaxed of my career. Winning last year takes a weight off your shoulders. The goal remains the same, but I've enjoyed playing without that pressure. It's been fun and has given me the freedom to focus solely on the next challenge. It's not about proving anything to anyone. I know what I can do and what we are when we play the way we should."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Celtics echan a la calle a los Magic y esperan al ganador del Knicks-Pistons