NBA

Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic

· East 1st Round - Game 3
61-21, 33-8 Away

vs

41-41, 22-19 Home

Boston visits Orlando with 2-0 series lead

Boston Celtics (61-21, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (41-41, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT

Celtics -5.5; over/under is 198.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Celtics lead series 2-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Celtics visit the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Magic won the last meeting 96-76 on April 9 led by 23 points from Franz Wagner, while Baylor Scheierman scored 15 points for the .

The Magic have gone 31-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando ranks last in the NBA recording just 23.0 assists per game led by Wagner averaging 4.7.

The Celtics are 39-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston is 8-3 in one-possession games.

The Magic score 105.4 points per game, 1.8 fewer points than the 107.2 the Celtics give up. The Celtics are shooting 46.2% from the field, 0.6% lower than the 46.8% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Wagner is averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Magic. Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.3 points over the last 10 games.

Jaylen Brown is scoring 22.2 points per game and averaging 5.8 rebounds for the Celtics. Derrick White is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 6-4, averaging 106.8 points, 41.4 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.1 points per game.

Celtics: 8-2, averaging 109.7 points, 47.8 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 6.7 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.9 points.

INJURIES

: Magic: Jalen Suggs: out for season (quad), Moritz Wagner: out for season (knee).

Celtics: Jayson Tatum: day to day (wrist).

Regular Season Series

ORL wins series 2-1

Matchup Prediction

Magic: 34.3%
Celtics: 65.7%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/bos.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originBOS https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/orl.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originORL
W2 Streak L2
2-0 Last Ten Games 0-2
116.3 Points Per Game 105.4
46.2 Field Goal % 44.5
36.8 Three Point % 31.8
45.3 Rebounds Per Game 41.8
26.1 Assists Per Game 23.0
5.5 Blocks Per Game 6.0
7.2 Steals Per Game 8.9
0.5 Team Turnovers Per Game 1.1
11.9 Total Turnovers Per Game 14.2
Orlando Magic Orlando Magic Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Jalen Suggs, SG Out Mar 4
Moritz Wagner, C Out Jan 9
Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Jayson Tatum, SF Day-To-Day Apr 25
Jaylen Brown, SG Day-To-Day Apr 25
Jrue Holiday, PG Day-To-Day Apr 24

Celtics Last 5

Date OPP Result
@ ORL L 96-76
vs CHA W 130-94
vs CHA W 93-86
vs ORL W 103-86
vs ORL W 109-100

Magic Last 5

Date OPP Result
@ IND W 129-115
@ ATL L 117-105
vs ATL W 120-95
@ BOS L 103-86
@ BOS L 109-100

Game Information

Kia Center

Location: Orlando, FL
Capacity:

2024-25 Atlantic Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Boston 61 21 .744 - W2
New York 51 31 .622 10 W1
Toronto 30 52 .366 31 L2
Brooklyn 26 56 .317 35 L3
Philadelphia 24 58 .293 37 L2

2024-25 Southeast Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Orlando 41 41 .500 - L1
Atlanta 40 42 .488 1 W3
Miami 37 45 .451 4 L1
Charlotte 19 63 .232 22 L7
Washington 18 64 .220 23 W1
Full Standings

NBA News

Tyler Herro fires back at Darius Garland about defense

Tyler Herro fires back at Darius Garland about defense

Tyler Herro says Cavaliers guard Darius Garland doesn't play any defense, after Garland said Cleveland's offensive game plan revolves around attacking the Heat guard.

Dillon Brooks calls Draymond a 'dirty player'

Dillon Brooks calls Draymond a 'dirty player'

Dillon Brooks says that Draymond Green is a dirty player for pushing Amen Thompson into Jimmy Butler.

Rockets' Dillon Brooks calls Draymond Green a dirty player

Rockets' Dillon Brooks calls Draymond Green a dirty player

Dillon Brooks defended Amen Thompson, saying his Rockets teammate is not a dirty player, but that Golden State's Draymond Green is.

Warriors' Kerr on Butler's Game 3 status: 'There's a chance'

Warriors' Kerr on Butler's Game 3 status: 'There's a chance'

Warriors forward Jimmy Butler is listed as questionable for Game 3 against the Rockets with pelvic contusion. Coach Steve Kerr said 'there's a chance he plays.'

Warriors star Draymond Green wins NBA's Hustle Award

Warriors star Draymond Green wins NBA's Hustle Award

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was named the winner of the NBA's Hustle Award.