Magic Open NBA Cup with Win Over Celtics
The Orlando Magic defeated the Boston Celtics 123-110 on Friday night in their NBA Cup opener.
Key Performances
- Franz Wagner led Orlando with 27 points.
- Desmond Bane contributed 22 points and seven assists.
- Jaylen Brown scored 32 points for the Celtics.
- Payton Pritchard added 27 points while Derrick White had 16 points and 10 assists.
- Paolo Banchero finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for the Magic.
- Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 18 points and five rebounds.
Game Highlights
The Magic opened strong with a 20-2 run featuring three-pointers from Wagner, Tristan da Silva, and Anthony Black, establishing a 16-point lead in the first quarter—their largest margin of the game.
The Celtics rallied in the second half, tying the game and briefly leading 96-95 on a jumper by Brown midway through the fourth quarter.
After Brown scored 14 straight points before a six-minute bench break late in the third quarter, the Magic responded with a decisive 17-4 run powered by three-pointers from Wagner, Bane, and Carter to secure the victory.
Anfernee Simons helped Boston stay competitive by scoring all 11 of his points early in the final period.
Team Grouping and Context
The Celtics and Magic are grouped with Brooklyn, Detroit, and Philadelphia in East Group B of the NBA's in-season tournament. This game marked their first meeting since Boston eliminated Orlando in a five-game playoff series last April.
Statistics
- Orlando shot 50% from the field.
- The Magic made 17 of 36 three-point attempts (47.2%).
- Boston shot 13 for 37 from beyond the arc (35%).
"It was their first meeting since the Celtics eliminated the Magic in five games in a first-round playoff series in April."
Author's summary: The Orlando Magic began the NBA Cup strong with a commanding win over the Celtics, fueled by sharp shooting and key performances from Wagner and Bane.