Magic Opens 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 led the Magic with 27 points.
- Desmond Bane contributed 22 points and seven assists.
- Paolo Banchero added 15 points and nine rebounds.
- Wendell Carter Jr. scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds.
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown scored 32 points, Payton Pritchard had 27, and Derrick White finished with 16 points and 10 assists.
Game Highlights
Wagner, Tristan da Silva, and Anthony Black hit three-pointers during a 20-2 run that gave Orlando a 16-point lead in the first quarter, their largest advantage of the game. The Celtics fought back to tie the game in the second half and even led 96-95 when Brown made a shot midway through the fourth quarter.
"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."
Wagner, Bane, and Carter responded with three-pointers in a 17-4 run to secure the win for Orlando. Anfernee Simons scored all 11 of his points early in the final period, helping Boston stay competitive until the closing minutes.
Team Stats and Context
Orlando shot 50% from the field and made 17 of 36 three-point attempts (47.2%). Boston shot 13 of 37 (35%). The Celtics and Magic are grouped with Brooklyn, Detroit, and Philadelphia in East Group B of the NBA’s in-season tournament.
This was their first meeting since the Celtics eliminated the Magic in five games during the first-round playoff series in April.
Author’s Summary
The Magic’s strong shooting and timely runs helped them overcome a Celtics rally, securing a solid start to the NBA Cup season.