Celtics undergo chilly capturing evening in Williams’ return, lose to Magic 117-109

The Wagner Brothers mixed for 44 factors, Paolo Banchero had 20, and Cole Anthony added 14 off the bench, main the Magic to a 117-109 victory over the Celtics. Boston began sturdy, however after shedding their lead late within the first quarter, they by no means received it again.

The Celtics returned to Boston after a 4-2 highway journey. They open a seven-game homestand with two straight towards the Magic, who sit on the backside of the standings however have now prolonged their profitable streak to 5 video games.

With Robert Williams scheduled to make his season debut, Al Horford’s return after a five-game absence predictably received neglected. However he made his presence felt instantly, hitting his first two 3’s as Boston jumped out to an early 14-4 lead. Williams checked in on the 7:03 mark, and inside two minutes, he had this alley-oop:

An A+ response from the bench on that second gradual movement replay. Regardless of this injection of vitality, the Celtics have been sloppy with the ball, accumulating six first-quarter turnovers. Banchero hit a buzzer-beating three, his twelfth level of the quarter, and the Magic led 32-28. They grabbed 6 offensive boards and hit 9 free throws within the opening body.

On the primary play of the 2nd quarter, Rob had this emphatic block on Mo Bamba:

Didn’t seem like the knee was bothering him there. Tatum scored 8 straight factors, however Orlando’s Cole Anthony and Franz Wagner have been a handful on offense and the Celtics couldn’t regain the lead. This throwback hook shot from Terrence Ross would have made Tommy Heinsohn proud:

Following a Jaylen Brown three and a Malcolm Brogdon transition layup, the Celtics reduce the result in 54-52 with two minutes left within the half. However Orlando promptly went on an 8-2 run and led 62-54 at halftime.

Tatum scored 20, Malcolm Brogdon added 12 off the bench, and Good had 7 assists. The Magic’s size bothered the Celtics all through the primary half, holding them to 7 of 25 from past the arc. Former-Celtic Mo Wagner scored 13 and grabbed three of Orlando’s 10 first-half offensive rebounds, and everybody who performed scored.

Lower than two minutes into the third quarter — and after a lot deliberation on the replay sales space — Horford received referred to as for an uncharacteristic flagrant-2 after hitting Mo Wagner under the belt. After a number of possessions of inconsistent officiating, Tatum received referred to as for a technical foul and Orlando went up 75-56.

It was an insufferably gradual and disjointed three minutes of basketball, however a Good runner adopted by a Luke Kornet tip layup introduced some life into the understandably listless TD Backyard. Across the six-minute mark, Jaylen and Timelord had back-to-back dunks that vaulted the gang out of its hibernation state. Jaylen’s was one in every of his loudest of the season, and he did it over the 7’2” Bol Bol:

With 11 seconds left within the interval, the refs (once more, after a lot deliberation) upgraded Bamba’s frequent foul to a flagrant-1. Grant Williams’ two free throws reduce Orlando’s result in 88-81 going into the ultimate body. Regardless of capturing underneath 40 %, the Celtics nonetheless had the sport in attain.

Anthony made Orlando’s first three subject objectives of the 4th quarter. His fearlessness and shot-making capacity remind me of a sure little man who used to put on inexperienced. Markelle Fultz hit back-to-back elbow jumpers to offer Orlando a 108-96 lead on the 3:55 mark. The Celtics made a number of buckets within the ultimate minute to chop the result in 7, however it was too little, too late, and the Magic gained 117-109.

Boston made 28 free throws however shot a dreadful 23.9 % from three. Tatum completed with 31 and Brown had 25. Mo Wagner led Orlando with 25 factors, and Bamba was a +15 with 8 factors and 5 offensive rebounds off the bench.

The Celtics have a possibility for revenge, as they once more play the Magic this Sunday at 3:00.