NBA: Celtics Dominate Magic, Leading Their Way to the Eastern Conference Semifinals

On Tuesday night at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic by 120-89 points in Game 5. The win gave Boston a 4-1 series victory and a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Despite a shaky start, the Celtics caught fire in the second half. Their commendable performance was more than enough to overwhelm the Magic.

At halftime, the Celtics trailed by two points and hadn’t made a single three-pointer. They were 0-for-8 from deep, marking the first time since October 2021 that they went an entire half without hitting one. But things changed dramatically after the break. Boston outscored Orlando 73-40 in the second half. The group shoots 13-of-17 from beyond the arc and 56.6% overall from the field. The offense clicked, the ball movement was sharp, and the defensive intensity rose several levels.

Jayson Tatum led the way with 35 points on 10-of-16 shooting, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 23 points and 6 rebounds, and the duo combined for 19-of-34 shooting. Their efficiency set the tone. The Celtics also cared for the little things. The team made 21 of 24 free throws and racked up 30 assists with just 11 turnovers.

The Magic, on the other hand, struggled to find rhythm. Their shooting woes continued, especially from three-point range. Orlando hit just 8 of their 38 attempts, and at one point, they missed 19 straight threes between the second and third quarters. This was in line with their regular season, where they were the league’s least accurate long-distance shooting team in nearly a decade.

A turning point came in the third quarter when Paolo Banchero picked up three quick fouls in less than two minutes. He was forced to the bench with five fouls and over 21 minutes left to play. The Celtics took full advantage of his absence and blew the game open.

Banchero later admitted, “I’ve never in my career – NBA or before – picked up three fouls that quickly.” He finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Head coach Jamahl Mosley noted that Banchero’s foul trouble “definitely swung the game.” Teammate Franz Wagner led the Magic with 25 points on 10-of-22 shooting, while Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in with 12 points and 10 boards.

Orlando also struggled with turnovers, giving the ball away 12 times. Boston turned those mistakes into 20 points. The Magic only managed 19 assists and shot 37.5% from the floor. They also sent the Celtics to the line too often and couldn’t keep up defensively once the third quarter got out of hand.

With the series win, the Celtics now await the outcome of the matchup between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The Knicks lead that series 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday. The Celtics became the first team in NBA playoff history to win by 30 or more points after trailing at halftime—yet another sign of their potential.

This marks their second straight year of a first-round exit for the Magic. The offseason will be critical for Orlando as they look to improve their roster and better support young stars like Banchero and Wagner.

Meanwhile, the Celtics continue their quest to repeat as NBA champions. Boston looks ready for whatever comes next with a deep lineup, postseason experience, and stars like Tatum and Brown leading the way.