Magic Reverse Roles for 123-110 Victory Over Celtics
Franz Wagner scored 27 points and was one of seven Orlando Magic players to reach double figures, while the Boston Celtics struggled to keep pace late in the game.
Context of the Match
Last spring, the Celtics and Magic clashed in a tough first-round playoff series that highlighted Orlando’s physical style. Although Boston won in five games, the series left a visible mark and perhaps drained their energy ahead of their loss to the Knicks in the next round.
Team Changes and Renewed Matchup
Since then, both teams evolved. Orlando brought in Desmond Bane to sharpen its offense, while Boston began embracing a more scrappy and defensive identity. Their NBA Cup meeting on Friday night in Orlando showcased those changes, but the Magic dominated with red-hot perimeter shooting that Boston couldn’t match.
Game Flow
- Boston erased an early 16-point deficit and briefly took the lead early in the fourth quarter.
- A Derrick White three-pointer with 9:12 remaining gave the Celtics an 89-87 advantage — their first lead since 12-10.
- Orlando’s offense surged again, closing out with a 39-point fourth quarter and sealing the 123-110 victory.
Key Performers
- Franz Wagner — 27 points, leading Orlando’s balanced attack.
- Jaylen Brown — 32 points and 9 rebounds for Boston.
- Payton Pritchard — 27 points, contributing strong support for the Celtics.
“The Magic hit the Celtics with an unusually hot shooting night that Boston could never recover from.”
Summary
The Magic’s balanced offense and season-best three-point shooting overwhelmed the Celtics, reversing last season’s narrative in a convincing NBA Cup win.
Author’s summary: Orlando used a strong shooting performance and cohesive play to outlast Boston 123-110, reversing roles from their previous playoff encounter.