Jayson Tatum could have even more responsibility against Orlando with Jaylen Brown hampered by a balky knee.
Dropping the season series with Orlando, 2-1, seems like something from which Boston will draw motivation rather than fret as it begins its official postseason title defense. When reigning champions face Play-In survivors, the outcome isn’t in question – it’s merely a matter of how many games.
Series schedule
Here’s how to watch the Celtics vs. Magic series:
All times Eastern Standard Time
- Game 1: Magic at Celtics (Sun. April 20, 3:30 ET, ABC)
- Game 2: Magic at Celtics (Wed. April 23, 7 ET, TNT)
- Game 3: Celtics at Magic (Fri. April 25, 7 ET, ESPN)
- Game 4: Celtics at Magic (Sun. April 27, 7 ET, TNT)
- Game 5: Magic at Celtics (Tue. April 29, TBD)*
- Game 6: Celtics at Magic (Thu. May 1, TBD)*
- Game 7: Magic at Celtics (Sat. May 3, TBD)*
* = If necessary
Top storyline
The tug o’ war at the arc. If you believed most of what you’ve heard about Boston this season, you’d think its 61 victories all were determined by 3-point prowess. The Celtics led the NBA in makes (1,457, a single-season league record) and attempts (3,955), a rate strong enough to boost their effective field goal percentage to fifth overall (.561). Derrick White (265), Payton Pritchard (255) and Jayson Tatum (250) all surpassed the franchise’s record for most 3s in a season and lined up fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, among NBA season leaders.
As for those 61 victories, well, 54 came on nights Boston made as many or more 3-pointers than its opponent. When they didn’t, the Celtics went 7-14. The pattern held against Orlando, but the Magic (who ranked last in both made 3s and accuracy) won the series by bothering Boston into a combined 15-of-73 in their two victories.
That’s where Orlando excels in the 3-point game – defending. The Magic gave up fewer makes and attempts beyond the arc than any other team in the league. In their three games against Boston, Orlando held the Celtics 11.5 attempts below their season average.
Keep your eyes on
Jaylen Brown’s mobility Availability is the first hurdle Boston faces, given the balky right knee with which its All-Star wing has been dealing. But getting Brown as close to full strength and versatility as he can be, not simply present, is the second. He was, after all, the Celtics’ MVP in both the Eastern Conference bracket and their Finals triumph over Dallas last spring.
Brown’s knee was sore enough that he fell short of the 65-game threshold for NBA awards and honors, and we learned days ago that he has been receiving injections as part of his recovery. It’s possible the Celtics could treat him the way they did Kristaps Porzingis a year ago by assessing “need to play” based on Brown’s condition and the urgency (or lack thereof) in each series.
But that could become a luxury as soon as the semifinals given that Boston doesn’t have adequate backup for Brown the way it covered for Porzingis with Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
1 more thing to watch for each team
For Celtics: Jayson Tatum could land as high as third in this year’s Kia NBA MVP voting, the best of what will be his fourth straight Top 10 finish. That likely will translate into his fifth All-NBA appearance to go with other accolades and, of course, his 2024 championship ring. But Brown’s knee issue could push more responsibility – and opportunity – over to Tatum.
Clearly, the Celtics have one of the deepest, most versatile rosters in the league. They seemed to play most of this season with one or two rotation guys tied behind their backs – intentionally – to avoid burning them out. Still, Tatum showed grace when his partner took home that Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy. Earning one of his own would be the perfect next step.
For Magic: It wouldn’t be accurate to say Orlando likes games that are slow, physical and played in the half court. That’s just how the Magic wants to play, regardless of the opponents’ preference.
They ranked second in defensive efficiency this season, behind only Oklahoma City. They can go huge across the front line. And led by Paolo Banchero, as massive as he is skilled at the forward position, the Magic can be bruising on offense and foul-prone on defense. At 105.4 points per game, they ranked 28th in points per game, making it essential for them to limit and contest.
The question then is: How much can the Celtics be denied?
1 key number to know
3 – The Celtics won three fewer games than they did last season and saw the league’s ninth biggest drop in point differential per 100 possessions. But were still one of two teams – Oklahoma City was the other – that ranked in the top five on both ends of the floor, doing it for the third straight year. It’s the first time in the 48 years that turnovers have been tracked that a team has done so.
The Celtics’ offense gets more attention for its record 3-point rate, but their defense remains elite. They ranked in the top three in opponent field goal percentage in the paint (second), opponent effective field goal percentage on shots from outside the paint (third) and opponent free throw rate (first).
Over the previous 28 seasons of play-by-play data, 27 teams ranked in the top five on both ends. Of those 27, 17 (63%) reached the conference finals and only two (2006-07 Mavericks, 2011-12 Bulls) lost in the first round. The Celtics have also reached the conference finals in three straight (and six of the past eight) years.
– John Schuhmann
The pick
Celtics in four. One team will be embarking again on what it hopes is a long playoff trek that ends only after it secures yet another Larry O’Brien Trophy. The other team is Orlando. Sure, the Magic have been playing well recently – including Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament blowout of Atlanta – and see this as an opportunity to salvage an injury-riddled season that began with loftier goals. But that’s not in the same time zone as chasing a 19th championship banner. Eventually that could turn into postseason pressure – but not yet. The Celtics were grumpy last year when Miami took Game 2 in the opening round. Given the challenges ahead, Boston locks in to finish this one fast.
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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.
