Boston Celtics Surge Past Orlando Magic in Game 4

The Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 107-98 in Game 4, taking a 3-1 series lead. Jayson Tatum scored 37 points, giving Boston the final push they needed in a close fourth quarter. Paolo Banchero had 31 points and Franz Wagner had 24, but it was not enough. The Celtics were without Jrue Holiday was out for a second consecutive game, but did not falter. They go back to Boston for Game 5, where they can potentially end the series.

A Close First Half

The first three games of this series were physical, with the Boston Celtics taking Games 1 and 2, before Orlando won Game 3. The Magic took an early lead as Boston started cold. A Banchero and-one gave them a 10-6 lead. Banchero and Wagner have been excellent in this series, and both were hot early. They extended their lead to eight before a Tatum and-one and three tied the game. Sam Hauser’s first three of the series gave Boston the lead on an 11-0 run. Tatum made a few more tough baskets to keep the Celtics ahead, but the Magic kept it close. At the end of the first quarter, the Boston Celtics led 32-29.

Orlando started the second quarter with an emphatic alley-oop to Jonathan Isaac. Kristaps Porzingis struggled in Game 3, and Boston tried to feed him for points at the rim. Porzingis then made his first three-pointer of the series. This gave the Celtics a nine-point lead, but the Magic quickly trimmed it down. They brought the lead down to three and tied the game with a Cory Joseph three. A Banchero bucket gave Orlando the lead on a 15-4 run. Tatum helped the Celtics regroup and take the lead back, closing the half on a 7-0 run. But the Magic had made a statement, and the crowd was lively. At halftime, the Boston Celtics led 53-48.

The Boston Celtics had the lead at halftime and were getting good performances from Tatum and Porzingis. Tatum had 15 points and Porzingis had 13. But they let multiple nine and eight-point leads slip away when they could have pulled ahead by double digits. Jaylen Brown had eight points but struggled with 3-of-11 shooting. Boston also had eight turnovers in the half. Banchero led the Magic with 18 points, followed by Wagner with 10. They were making things physical and playing tough defense like they have done throughout the series. It was a back-and-forth half and still anyone’s game.

The Boston Celtics Win

In Game 3, the Magic won the game in the third quarter, and they started hot again. They scored on their first few possessions to trim the Boston lead. Joseph stepped up, making a couple of shots with efficient shooting. The Celtics held onto their lead, but the offense wasn’t exactly humming. A Wagner three cut it to one. Brown and Tatum answered, but Orlando continued to score. Banchero was surgical, willing his way to the rim for buckets. Threes from Porzingis and Derrick White helped the Celtics go back up by nine, but Wagner and the Magic battled back again. At the end of the third quarter, the Boston Celtics led 79-75.

The fourth quarter began with both teams trading baskets. A Wagner and-one brought it to a two-point game. Wagner and Banchero were ruthless, and the Magic fought for every inch. A Tatum three and a White layup gave Boston a five-point lead with six minutes to go. But Kentavious Caldwell-Pope responded with a three, and a Wendell Carter Jr. putback tied it up. On the following possession, the Celtics took the lead back with an and-one dunk from Porzingis.

A pair of Brown free throws put the Boston Celtics back up by five with 3:21 remaining. Tatum hit a fadeaway jumper and was fouled on a three-pointer on the next possession. This gave Boston a nine-point lead. An Al Horford block and a Magic turnover stalled their final comeback attempt. The Boston Celtics won 107-98, closing on a 16-7 run. They take a 3-1 series lead.

Final Thoughts

This was a crucial win for the Boston Celtics. The three-point shots were not falling, but they persisted to take a 3-1 lead as the series headed back to Boston. Tatum was excellent, scoring 37 points and 14 rebounds. Brown responded after a cold first half, finishing with 21 points. Porzingis had 19 and White had 18 points. And while Al Horford was not scoring, he had five blocks.

Banchero had 31 points and Wagner had 24. Again, Orlando fought to the end but could not withstand the Celtics’ final push. They return to Boston for Game 5, where the Celtics will try to end the series, while Orlando tries to keep their season alive.