The Boston Celtics took care of business at home against the visiting Orlando Magic, cruising to a 121-94 win. Boston improves to 29-12 on the season with the result.
After Wednesday's loss at Milwaukee, Magic players pointed to an atypical lack of energy at the root of the rout. At Friday's shootaround, second-year guard Anthony Black said games like this one with the Celtics are the ones "hoopers get up for."
The Celtics made 17 triples against the Magic on Friday night. Orlando ended with just 5. The long-range game was the difference.
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The Boston Celtics soundly defeated the visiting Orlando Magic Tuesday night, grabbing a 121-94 victory at home, and turning the page on a bad road loss to the Toronto Raptors earlier in the week. Orlando has one of the NBA's top defenses,
Paolo Banchero’s return to the lineup for Orlando was supposed to take them from overachievers to contenders. That is a work in progress. The Magic have lost four of their last six. They lost most recently 122-93 Wednesday in Milwaukee. Boston was upset Wednesday in Toronto. The Raptors knocked off the defending champs 110-97.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, right, looks to shoot against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The defending NBA Champions are on the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, Jan. 18 when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston.
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Amid their worst stretch of the season, the Celtics will try to regain their early-season form against the Magic.