Celtics suffer defeat against Magic with a score of 96-113, facing potential elimination from In-Season Tournament

The Boston Celtics suffered a devastating 113-96 loss against the Orlando Magic, marking their largest defeat this season. This loss places Orlando on a six-game winning streak and positions them to win East Group C and advance to the knockout round of the In-Season Tournament.

Moe Wagner led the Magic with a game-high 27 points, followed by Paolo Banchero with 23 points and Franz Wagner with 19 points. Cole Anthony also contributed 16 points to the victory.

Despite the loss, Tatum scored 26 points for the Celtics, with 12 points coming from free throws. Jaylen Brown added 18 points, but struggled in the final three quarters with only 6 points combined. Derrick White and Kornet also made significant contributions with 16 and 12 points, respectively.

The Celtics started strong, leading 30-19 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Magic responded with a massive 17-0 run in the third quarter, taking a 67-62 lead and maintaining a three-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Jrue Holiday was sidelined with a sprained ankle, while Kristaps Porzingis left the game due to left calf tightness and Derrick White suffered an arm contusion. However, White re-entered the game after being examined.

The Celtics held an 8-point lead at halftime, but the Magic’s strong performance in the second half sealed the victory as they outscored the Celtics by double digits and maintained their lead.

The Celtics struggled with their shooting, only making 24.3% of their three-point attempts and 41.3% overall. In contrast, the Magic shot 39.3% from three and 50.6% from the field, ultimately out-rebounding the Celtics 48-30.

The Magic’s exceptional defense held the Celtics to a season-low in points, showcasing their dominance in the game.

With this loss, the Celtics’ record falls to 12-4, making them second-best in the league and first in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics will look to bounce back in their upcoming game against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday at 6 pm at TD Garden.