Magic Open NBA Cup Play 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 scored 27 points for the Magic.
- Desmond Bane contributed 22 points and seven assists.
- Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 32 points.
- Payton Pritchard added 27 points, while Derrick White posted 16 points and 10 assists.
- Paolo Banchero finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Orlando.
- Wendell Carter Jr. scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds.
Game Highlights
Wagner, Tristan da Silva, and Anthony Black knocked down 3-pointers during a 20-2 run that gave Orlando a 16-point lead early in the first quarter. This was the Magic’s biggest margin of the game.
The Celtics battled back, tying the game in the second half and taking a 96-95 lead when Brown made a jumper midway through the fourth quarter.
Orlando responded with 3-pointers from Wagner, Bane, and Carter in a 17-4 run that sealed the victory.
“Brown scored 14 straight points for Boston before going to the bench for a six-minute break with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter,” the report said.
Anfernee Simons scored all 11 of his points early in the final quarter to keep Boston close until the last minutes.
Team Stats
- Orlando shot 50% overall and made 17 of 36 three-pointers (47.2%).
- Boston shot 13 of 37 from beyond the arc (35%).
Context
The Celtics and Magic are in East Group B of the NBA’s in-season tournament, alongside Brooklyn, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This was their first meeting since Boston eliminated Orlando in a first-round playoff series in April.
Summary: The Orlando Magic overcame a Celtics comeback with strong shooting and key runs, opening the NBA Cup with a 123-110 victory.