Celtics outlast Magic, 108-97, behind 32 points from Jayson Tatum

When the Celtics shoot somewhere in the neighborhood of 44 percent from the floor and 27 percent from 3-point range, as they did Sunday against the Magic, that is often an indicator that perhaps it simply isn’t their night.

In this particular game, though, those numbers didn’t tell the whole story. Boston made crucial hustle plays, extra passes and played excellent defense, leaning on intangibles and collective grit to outlast Orlando, 108-97, and move to 5-1 on the season.

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Jayson Tatum led the way with 32 points (15 of 17 from the free-throw line) and seven assists. Paul George added 17 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

The Magic (2-4) jumped out to a 13-4 edge, as the Celtics looked a step slow in the opening minutes and Orlando burned Boston from the outside.

Hugo González and Tatum responded with conviction, with González contributing an and-one and a crafty lefty finish in traffic and Tatum doing damage all over. González finished with 7 points in first start of the season.

A Luka Garza and-one in the final minute gave the Celtics the lead, and they took that 24-23 edge into the second quarter despite shooting just 9 percent from 3-point range in the first. Orlando shot 50 percent from 3 but had eight turnovers, and Boston’s ability to turn defense into offense paid dividends.

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Tatum took a hit to the head, started bleeding and briefly went to the locker room before returning.

The Celtics’ shooting woes continued into the second, as they started the game 1 for 15 from distance despite getting decent looks. But, they continued to make timely plays, as Payton Pritchard found Baylor Scheierman in the corner, Garza connected with Tatum for two more and Jordan Walsh sprayed it to Derrick White for a triple. Neemias Queta added a thunderous dunk, Pritchard kept Orlando off balance and Tatum was terrific defensively.

Boston shot 23 percent from 3 in the half, yet won the turnover battle, 9-3, and built a 55-50 halftime advantage behind 17 points from Tatum.

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George helped Boston push the lead to double digits early in the third, stymying Orlando on one end…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/celtics-outlast-magic-108-97-232420006.html

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Publish date : 2026-11-01 23:24:00

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