Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics: One Magic moment.
With their backs against the wall, in a must-win situation, the Orlando Magic survived a Boston Celtics comeback attempt to shrink the deficit in their play-off series against the NBA champions.
The Celtics tied the game with two minutes 31 seconds left on the clock but back-to-back baskets by Franz Wagner secured a 95-93 home win on Friday.
The defending NBA champions posted a record of 33-8 away from the friendly confines of TD Garden this season but are now 0-3 in Orlando in 2024-25.
The Celtics, who shattered several notable NBA records for 3-point shooting during the regular season but were held to 9 for 27 (33%) in Game 3 and went a prolonged stretch, 17 minutes, between 3-pointers in the second half. The contest included 43 fouls, a flagrant foul and 35 turnovers, 21 by the Celtics against the physical and intense Magic defense.
“I feel like it suits our team, our playing style,” said Wagner, who had eight assists and seven rebounds. “We’ve played like that all year, and I feel like whoever plays more aggressive is going to win in this series.”
The flagrant foul was called on Orlando’s Cole Anthony after a play in which Boston’s Jaylen Brown dislocated his left index finger.
“Maybe a fight will break out (in Game 4),” said Brown, who finished with 19 points and five fouls. “If you want to fight, we can do that and see who goes to the second round.”
The Celtics believe the Magic are already getting plenty of shots in.
Embed from Getty Images“Some fouls they call and some they don’t, and that’s how it’s going to be,” said Kristaps Porzingis, who had seven points and four fouls. “We have to accept the reality and also, we can use that. It goes both ways. It’s really a big difference from the regular season.”
The Magic now trail 2-1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference play-offs. The best-of-seven series continues in Orlando on Sunday.
Boston led for most of the way before they rallied from a 12-point hole in the fourth quarter to make it 91-91.
Wagner then scored on consecutive drives over the ‘Unicorn’, Porzingis to finish with 32 points as his team’s highest scorer.
Jayson Tatum returned for the Celtics after missing game two with a bone bruise in his wrist and scored 21 points in the first half before finishing with a game-high 36.
Also:
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Old school versus new school. This could be the passing of the torch.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many excellent performances gone by the wayside by late costly mistakes stored fresh in the back of their minds, sure picked the best time to have this strong finish.
LeBron James continued his return to full fitness with a game-high 38 points on 13-of-21 shooting but was unable to prevent the Los Angeles Lakers losing by 12, 116-104 at the Target Center to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Jaden McDaniels, who cut his teeth as a defensive specialist, scored a career playoff-high 30 points and anchored Minnesota’s stifling defense on an under the weather Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.
“Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who filled up the stat sheet with 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Julius Randle added 22 points for the Timberwolves, who outscored the Lakers 13-1 over the final 4:37 after Luca Doncic’s tying baseline jumper. He registered 17 points despite playing with a stomach bug.
“Our best closing effort of the year, no doubt,” coach Chris Finch said.
As stated previously, James had 13-for-21 shooting, including three three-pointers in a four-possession span during the fourth quarter.
“He was shooting it from Yucatan,” said Edwards. “He was shooting it crazy.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick added: “He’s moving better. It seems like he’s getting healthier by the day.”
