The series now moves to Orlando for Game 3. The Celtics won Game 1 103-86 in Boston on Sunday with a full roster. They won Game 2 109-100 on Wednesday, also in Boston, but without Jayson Tatum. In both games, the Magic kept it close in the first half but the Celtics pulled away with a big run to start the 3rd quarter of both games
In NBA history, 452 teams have gone up 2-0 in a playoff series. This includes both 5 game and 7 game series. Of the 452 teams that were down 0-2, only 33 teams have come back to win the series. 587 teams have held a 2-1 series lead. Of those teams that were down 1-2, 117 of them went on to win the series.
There have been 154 teams that have gone up 3-0 in a 7 game series. Of the teams that were down 0-3, not a single one of them was able to go on to win the series. So, this team is very important for both teams. In 2023, the 2nd seed Celtics were down 0-3 to the 8th seed Miami Heat. The Celtics took the series to 7 games but lost that 7th game.
This is the fourth time these two teams have met in the playoffs and the first time since 2010, when the Celtics won the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2. Charlotte and Brooklyn are the other two teams. With the win on Wednesday the Celtics lead all time with 10 playoff wins to 9 for the Magic.
This will be an interesting matchup as illustrated by several statistics. The Celtics average the 2nd fewest turnovers (11.9) while the Magic are 2nd with 16.2 forced turnovers per game. The first game went the Celtics way in this category. The Celtics had just 9 turnovers in the game while the Magic had 15. In Game 2, the Celtics had 10 turnovers to 7 for the Magic.
The Celtics are first in fewest shooting fouls committed while the Magic draw the 2nd most shooting fouls per 100 possessions. The Celtics were called for 13 personal fouls for the game while the Magic were called for 17 personal fouls. In Game 2, the Celtics were called for 19 fouls while the Magic were called for 23. The Magic have played very physical and had some very reckless plays. In Game 1, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope took out Jayson Tatum, who injured his wrist on the play and in Game 2, Goga Bitadze took out Kristaps Porzingis with his elbow, giving him 5 stitches in his forehead.
The most important statistic is 3 point shooting. The Celtics averaged 48.2 threes per game in the regular season while the Magic limited teams to 31.4 attempted 3’s per game, fewest in the league. In Game 1, the Celtics attempted 37 threes, which is 11 under their season average. They made 18 of those. The Magic took just 27 threes and made just 10. In Game 2, The Celtics once again attempted 37 threes and made 12, while the Magic attempted 29 and made just 7.
Jayson Tatum went into Game 1 healthy but thanks to a reckless play by the Magic as he went up for a dunk, he is listed as doubtful for the second straight game and his final status will be a game time decision. He has a severe bone bruise and hasn’t been ruled out but the doubtful designation doesn’t give a lot of hope. I’m guessing that Al Horford will once again get the start if he can’t play.
Kristaps Porzingis left Game 2 with a gash in his forehead, thanks to a reckless Goga Bitadze elbow. He shot the 2 free throws with blood through his hair and on his nose. He left the game and got 5 stitches in the locker room and came back in to finish the game. He is not on the injury list. Jrue Holiday is on the injury report due to a hamstring strain. He is questionable for this game. If he can’t play, I’m guessing that Sam Hauser will get the start in his place.
A late addition to the injury report is Jaylen Brown due to right knee posterior impingement, the same injury that kept him out of the last 3 games of the regular season. He has looked good in the first 2 games against the Magic, although he has lacked some of his usual explosiveness at times. It’s unclear whether he is having more problems with the knee or if they expect Tatum and Holiday to be out and figure they would give him a rest day as well. i would guess that Payton Pritchard will start if all 3 are out. The stay ready group really needs to be ready for this game.
The Magic have 2 players on the injury list but they have been out long term for them and both will miss the playoffs. Jalen Suggs has been out since March 4 after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery to remove a cartilage fragment in his left knee. Moritz Wagner has been out since January 9 when he tore the ACL in his left knee. Other than these two, the Magic have a clear injury report. Of course, the Celtics haven’t been playing recklessly and injuring their players either.
Probable Celtics Starters
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Al Horford
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jordan Walsh
Luke Kornet
Torrey Craig
Sam Hauser
Xavier Tillman, Sr
JD Davison
2 Way Players
Drew Peterson
Miles Norris
Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (wrist) doubtful
Jrue Holiday (hamstring) questionable
Jaylen Brown (knee) questionable
Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla
Probable Magic Starters
PG: Cory Joseph
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Franz Wagner
PF: Paolo Banchero
C: Wendell Carter, Jr
Magic Reserves
Cole Anthony
Goga Bitadze
Anthony Black
Tristan DaSilva
Gary Harris
Caleb Houstan
Jett Howard
Jonathan Isaac
2-Way Players
Mac McClung
Trevelin Queen
Ethan Thompson
Injuries/Out
Moritz Wagner (knee) out
Jalen Suggs (knee) out
Head Coach
Jamahl Mosley
Key Matchups
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Al Horford
Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images
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Paolo Banchero
Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images
Al Horford vs Paolo Banchero
Banchero averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in the regular season. He shot 45.2% from the field and 32.0% from beyond the arc. In Game 1, he finished with 36 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. He shot 51.9% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. In Game 2 he finished with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks while shooting 48% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to try to defend him better in this one.
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Jaylen Brown
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
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Franz Wagner
Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Jaylen Brown vs Franz Wagner
Wagner averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game in the regular season. He shot 46.3% from the field and 29.5% from beyond the arc. In Game 1, he finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. He shot 41.7% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc. In Game 2, he finished with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 14.3% from beyond the arc. He is very capable of having a big game and the Celtics need to defend him well.
Honorable Mention
Kristaps Porzingis vs Wendell Carter, Jr
Carter averaged 9.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in the regular season. He shot 46% from the field and 23.4% from beyond the arc. In Game 1, he finished with 4 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 33.3% from the field and went 1-1 from beyond the arc. In Game 2, he finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist while shooting 75% from the field and he hit all 3 of his threes. Hopefully Porzingis avenges those stitches and has a big game on both ends of the court in this one.
Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense is always the key to winning and even more so in the Playoffs. The Celtics are 4th the playoffs with a defensive rating of 106.3. The Magic are 14th in the playoffs with a defensive rating of 120.5. The Celtics scored just 103 points in Game 1 but they held the Magic to just 86 points. In Game 2, the Magic scored 100 points. The Magic have good defenders and so if the Celtics hope to beat them, they need match Orlando’s defensive intensity and to play tough lock down defense themselves. Hopefully, the Magic can defend in this game without injuring another Celtic.
Rebound – As Pat Riley once said, “No rebounds, no rings.” Much of rebounding is effort and hustle and if the Celtics put the extra effort into grabbing rebounds, it usually translates to the rest of their game. The Celtics out-rebounded the Magic 42-41 in Game 1. In Game 2, the Celtics won the rebounding battle 46-34. They need to work even harder on the boards in this one. The Celtics are 42-7 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents. The Celtics need to out-work the Magic on the boards if they want to win this game.
3 Point Shooting – In the regular season, the Celtics took the most 3’s per game while the Magic allowed the fewest 3’s per game. In the 3 games this season, the Magic held the Celtics to 11.3 fewer 3 point attempts than their average. In Game 1, the Celtics took 37 threes (43.2%) while the Magic took 27 threes (37%) In Game 2, the Celtics took 37 threes (37%) while the Magic took 29 threes (24.2%). The Celtics are tough to beat when they make their 3’s and they struggle when the 3’s aren’t falling. Once again, they have to neutralize the Magic’s tough 3 point defense and at the same time play tough defense against the Magic.
Effort and Desperation – The Magic know that if they go down 0-3, they are pretty much doomed to lose the series. They are going to be desperate and will likely play even more recklessly than they have been. The Celtics know that if they can win this game and go up 3-0, it puts them in a good position to win the series. The Celtics need to give maximum effort in this one, especially if Holiday and Tatum can’t play.
X-Factors
Road Game – The Celtics are playing on the road. They are facing distractions of travel and playing in an unfamiliar arena in front of hostile fans. Although, the last time the Celtics played in Orlando, there was a huge contingent of Celtics fans in the arena. They need to shake off those distractions and keep their focus on playing the game. The Celtics were historically good on the road this season, going 33-8 on the road for the season. They need to draw on that road warrior mindset to help them get a win in this one.
Injuries – Other than Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics were mostly healthy during last year’s playoffs. They came into Game 1 healthy with just minor questions about Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday. The Celtics won without Jayson Tatum in Game 2 and Jaylen Brown dispelled any questions about his health. Coming into Game 3, Jayson Tatum is once again doubtful. Jrue Holiday is questionable with a hamstring strain. The Celtics need to lock into that next man up mentality and pull together to get a win, even if they are missing 2 starters.
Officiating – Officiating can always be an X-Factor. In some games, you don’t even notice the referees and in other games, they seem to make the game all about them. Some crews call the game tight and others let the teams play. Some crews favor one of the teams while others call it fairly. No matter how the game is called, the Celtics must adjust and not allow the officiating to take away from their focus. Hopefully the refs are keeping an eye out for reckless play from the Magic in this one.
Official Report
Crew Chief – David Guthrie
The Celtics were 1-0 with Guthrie this season. He calls 53.2% of fouls on the road team. His home win/loss record is 23-15.
Referee – Courtney Kirkland
The Celtics were 2-1 with Kirkland this season. He calls 47.8% of fouls on the road teamHis home win/loss record is 31-33.
Umpire – Tre Maddox
The Celtics are 2-1 with Maddox this season. He calls 50.6% of fouls on the road team. His home win/loss record this season is 26-31.
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