Summary of the NBA Cup Opener: Magic vs Celtics
The Orlando Magic secured a 123-110 victory over the Boston Celtics in their NBA Cup debut on Friday night.
Key Players and Scores
- Franz Wagner led the Magic with 27 points.
- Paolo Banchero contributed 15 points and nine rebounds.
- Desmond Bane added 22 points, seven assists.
- Wendell Carter Jr. scored 18 points with five rebounds.
- Jaylen Brown scored 32 points for the Celtics.
- Payton Pritchard tallied 27 points, Derrick White 16 points with 10 assists.
- Anfernee Simons scored all 11 of his points early in the final quarter to support Boston.
Key Moments and Runs
Orlando built their largest lead of the game, 16 points, during a 20-2 run after three 3-pointers from Wagner, Tristan da Silva, and Anthony Black in the first quarter. The Celtics rallied in the second half, tying the game and taking a 96-95 lead when Brown made a critical jumper midway through the fourth quarter. The Magic responded with a 17-4 run, featuring 3-pointers from Wagner, Bane, and Carter Jr., sealing the win. Brown scored 14 consecutive points for Boston before resting with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter.
Team Shooting Statistics
- Orlando shot 50% overall, making 17 of 36 (47.2%) three-pointers.
- Boston shot 13 for 37 from beyond the arc.
Groupings and Context
The Magic and Celtics are part of East Group B in the NBA in-season tournament, along with Brooklyn, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This game was their first meeting since Celtics eliminated the Magic in a first-round playoff series in April.
Orlando outperformed Boston with key contributions from their players, adopting a strong offensive strategy to secure their first win in the NBA Cup.
Author's note: The Magic demonstrated resilience with strategic runs and effective shooting, marking a promising start to their NBA Cup campaign.