Boston Celtics Outlast Orlando Magic In Game 2 Win

The Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 109-100 in a gritty Game 2. Jayson Tatum was out with a wrist injury suffered in Game 1, but Jaylen Brown took over with 36 points. Paolo Banchero scored 32 points, and Franz Wagner had 25 in the loss. It was a tough, physical game with hard fouls and even a bit of blood. The Boston Celtics take a 2-0 series lead and will go to Orlando for game three on Friday.

A Physical First Half

Without Tatum, Al Horford got the start for the Boston Celtics. In his absence, Brown needed to step up. He did so early on, scoring seven of their first 10 points. Like Game 1, Wagner and Banchero were scoring for Orlando. Cory Joseph also had five points, and it was even in the opening minutes. Both teams were playing physical defense, making for a low-scoring quarter. The Celtics were shooting poorly from the field but got to the free-throw line consistently. They shot 12 free throws in the first quarter. This gave the Boston Celtics a 23-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. Brown had 12 points and Banchero had 8.

In the first quarter, the Boston Celtics shot an ugly 26% from the field. Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White scored to start the second quarter, but the Magic answered with dunks from Anthony Black and Banchero. Boston began to build a lead with buckets from Payton Pritchard and Porzingis. This 9-0 run put them up by double digits. But Orlando battled back as Wagner orchestrated a 7-0 run. A Horford and-one kept Boston ahead in a very physical game. A pair of Wendell Carter Jr. and ones helped the Magic trim the deficit before the half. At halftime, the Boston Celtics held a 50-47 lead.

Both teams were chippy and fired up in the first half. There was a run-in between Horford and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after Caldwell-Pope fouled him. Caldwell-Pope was the one who fouled Tatum, leading to his injury, so he was already detested by the Boston crowd. This did not help. Porzingis led the Boston Celtics with 15 points, and Brown had 14. Boston shot 35% but had 23 free throws. Banchero and Wagner led the Magic with 14 points apiece. It was a close, physical half, similar to Game 1. In Game 1, the Celtics pulled ahead, but with their poor shooting and no Tatum, that would not be so easy.

The Boston Celtics Win

Brown knocked down a pair of three-pointers to start the third quarter. A White three put the Boston Celtics up by double digits on an 11-0 run. The Magic responded as Wagner heated up again. He hit a three-pointer to bring the lead back down to five. Boston regrouped, getting baskets inside from White and Jrue Holiday. They went on a 9-0 run, capped off with an emphatic Brown dunk. Brown took over in this stretch, scoring points in the quarter. Again, physically ensued, as Porzingis was busted open, bleeding profusely after an elbow. A Banchero and-one made it a 10-point game to close the quarter. Through three quarters, the Boston Celtics held an 81-71 lead.

The Boston Celtics and Magic traded buckets to start the fourth quarter, and Banchero helped bring it back to single digits. Orlando went on an 8-0 run, and Banchero could not miss. Boston went back up by 11, but the Magic quickly brought it back to seven. White then drilled back-to-back threes, but Orlando continued to respond. With 4:14 to go, the Celtics led 96-89.

From there, Brown got back-to-back tough baskets, and a Pritchard and-one caused the TD Garden crowd to erupt. This gave Boston an 11-point lead. Then, a Brown three and a Horford putback gave them a 13-point lead with a minute left. The Magic kept fighting until the end, but the Boston Celtics held on for a 109-100 win, taking a 2-0 series lead.

Final Thoughts

This was a massive win for the Boston Celtics. In their first playoff game without Tatum, they fought through a physical game and earned a tough victory. Brown led with 36 points on 12-of-19 shooting. Porzingis left the game for an extended period with his bleeding but finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Tatum’s status for game three is still up in the air, making this win all the more important in the series.

Again, Banchero and Wagner were the lifeblood of the Magic offense. Banchero had 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Wagner had 25 points. Trailing 2-0, they return to Orlando for Game 3 on Friday.