Apr 20, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) controls the ball whereas the Orlando Magic defend in the course of the second half at TD Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Photographs The Orlando Magic will likely be on the lookout for extra secondary scoring Wednesday after they go to the Boston Celtics for Recreation 2 of their Jap Convention first-round playoff collection.
Regardless of 36 factors from Paolo Banchero and 23 from Franz Wagner, Orlando dropped the collection opener 103-86 in Boston on Sunday. No different Magic participant scored greater than seven factors.
Orlando’s three different starters mixed for 10 factors: level guard Cory Joseph was scoreless, heart Wendell Carter Jr. had 4 factors and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope completed with six.
“Our means to ensure that once we get the rebound or we do flip them over, we have now to ensure we convert,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley stated. “It’s a must to get simple baskets when you have got a high-level protection as they’re.”
The Magic held Jayson Tatum to 17 factors and Jaylen Brown to 16, however Boston’s supporting forged offered loads of offense. Derrick White was 7-of-12 from 3-point territory and tossed in 30 factors, and Payton Pritchard got here off the bench to attain 19 — two greater than Orlando’s non-starters.
“That is one thing as a group we harped on coming in, is that they do have two fundamental guys, however it’s actually the opposite guys that kill you,” Banchero stated. “I feel we simply must do a greater job of getting these guys off the road as a result of they actually kill you from three. … You do a great job on the principle guys, however a few of the function guys on the wings, they kill you. So, we have now to do a greater job taking them away.”
Boston trailed 49-48 at halftime, however outscored Orlando 30-18 within the third and 25-19 within the fourth.
“Wanting again at it, that momentum shift within the third quarter was huge,” Mosley stated. “Us being deliberate and intentional in a few of our defensive communication items … (we) had a pair mishaps. That is what bought to their spark.
“We have got to push that ball up the ground rather a lot quicker so we’re not sitting down enjoying towards a set switching protection.”
Brown scored 10 of his 16 factors within the third quarter. Jrue Vacation added 9 factors within the third quarter after failing to attain within the first half.
“I feel that within the first half, (the Magic) type of managed the depth degree of the sport,” Brown stated. “They have been extra bodily than us, and within the second half, we type of shifted that.”
The Celtics had a momentary scare early within the fourth quarter when Tatum drove to the basket and was fouled arduous by Caldwell-Pope. Tatum landed awkwardly on his proper wrist and remained on the ground in apparent discomfort, however remained within the sport.
Tatum stated his X-ray got here again unfavorable, and he was feeling higher after the sport.
“I simply landed on it,” he stated. “It was throbbing for a second, then type of went away.”
Following Recreation 2, the best-of-seven collection will shift to Orlando for Recreation 3 (Friday) and Recreation 4 (Sunday).
“The purpose is to try to get one (on the highway),” Banchero stated. “Recreation 2 we have now to return out with a better degree of focus and simply do what we will do to get a win on the highway as a result of we aren’t successful this collection except we do. So, that is the purpose.”
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