Deadspin | Magic hope bench shows up in Game 2 vs. Celtics

[ad_1] Apr 20, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) controls the ball whereas the Orlando Magic defend through the second half at TD Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Pictures The Orlando Magic might be on the lookout for extra secondary scoring Wednesday once they go to the Boston Celtics for Recreation 2 of their Jap Convention first-round playoff collection.

Regardless of 36 factors from Paolo Banchero and 23 from Franz Wagner, Orlando dropped the collection opener 103-86 in Boston on Sunday. No different Magic participant scored greater than seven factors.

Orlando's three different starters mixed for 10 factors: level guard Cory Joseph was scoreless, heart Wendell Carter Jr. had 4 factors and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope completed with six.

"Our capacity to guarantee that once we get the rebound or we do flip them over, now we have to verify we convert," Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. "You must get straightforward baskets when you have got a high-level protection as they're."

The Magic held Jayson Tatum to 17 factors and Jaylen Brown to 16, however Boston's supporting solid supplied loads of offense. Derrick White was 7-of-12 from 3-point territory and tossed in 30 factors, and Payton Pritchard got here off the bench to attain 19 -- two greater than Orlando's non-starters.

"That is one thing as a workforce we harped on coming in, is that they do have two most important guys, nevertheless it's actually the opposite guys that kill you," Banchero mentioned. "I believe we simply need to do a greater job of getting these guys off the road as a result of they actually kill you from three. ... You do job on the primary guys, however among the position guys on the wings, they kill you. So, now we have to do a greater job taking them away."

Boston trailed 49-48 at halftime, however outscored Orlando 30-18 within the third and 25-19 within the fourth.

"Wanting again at it, that momentum shift within the third quarter was massive," Mosley mentioned. "Us being deliberate and intentional in a few of our defensive communication items ... (we) had a pair mishaps. That is what received to their spark.

"We have to push that ball up the ground lots sooner so we're not sitting down enjoying towards a set switching protection."

Brown scored 10 of his 16 factors within the third quarter. Jrue Vacation added 9 factors within the third quarter after failing to attain within the first half.

"I believe that within the first half, (the Magic) sort of managed the depth stage of the sport," Brown mentioned. "They have been extra bodily than us, and within the second half, we sort of shifted that."

The Celtics had a momentary scare early within the fourth quarter when Tatum drove to the basket and was fouled arduous by Caldwell-Pope. Tatum landed awkwardly on his proper wrist and remained on the ground in apparent discomfort, however remained within the recreation.

Tatum mentioned his X-ray got here again damaging, and he was feeling higher after the sport.

"I simply landed on it," he mentioned. "It was throbbing for a second, then sort of went away."

Following Recreation 2, the best-of-seven collection will shift to Orlando for Recreation 3 (Friday) and Recreation 4 (Sunday).

"The objective is to attempt to get one (on the street)," Banchero mentioned. "Recreation 2 now we have to come back out with a better stage of focus and simply do what we will do to get a win on the street as a result of we aren't profitable this collection until we do. So, that is the objective."