Orlando Magic (23-19) at Boston Celtics (28-12) Recreation #41 1/17/25

The Celtics return dwelling from a depressing efficiency in Toronto, taking up the Orlando Magic for the second time this season. The primary matchup between the 2 got here on Dec. 23, when a shorthanded Orlando crew pulled away within the fourth quarter for a 108-104 win.

The Celtics are 6-4 of their final 10 video games and 4-3 within the month of January, most just lately getting outplayed by the 10-31 Toronto Raptors in a 110-97 defeat on Wednesday. The Celtics stay six video games again of the first-seed Cleveland Cavaliers, however maintain a two-game benefit over the three-seeded New York Knicks.

The Magic, in the meantime, have managed to stay round within the playoff race regardless of accidents to a number of rotation gamers and their two major scoring choices in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Banchero returned to motion on Jan. 10 after a two-month absence, with the Magic going 1-2 in his video games again on the ground. They presently maintain the five-seed within the Jap Convention standings.

Harm Information

The Celtics have a clear invoice of well being coming into tonight’s matchup.

The Magic will once more be with out some key figures once they tackle the reigning champs.

Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Gary Harris have all been out for vital stretches, whereas Goga Bitadze will probably be lacking his second straight sport after coming into concussion protocol.

Key Matchups

Paolo Banchero vs. Jayson Tatum

In his first three video games again within the lineup after an indirect pressure, Paolo Banchero has performed a smaller quantity of minutes in comparison with his traditional time on the ground, however the Duke product has nonetheless maintained that aggressive battering-ram play type that’s made him one of many high younger skills within the league. He’s presently averaging 25.3 factors per sport in his three video games again, whereas taking pictures 49% from the sphere with 6.7 rebounds and three.7 assists. It’ll be the primary faceoff between the 2 Duke forwards this season.

Wendell Carter Jr. vs. Kristaps Porzingis

With Goga Bitadze sidelined, anticipate to see plenty of Wendell Carter Jr. on this contest. WCJ was productive within the first assembly in opposition to Boston, taking pictures 5-of-8 from the sphere for 11 factors to go together with seven rebounds and 4 assists. A keen shooter that’s having a career-worst season from the perimeter (20% 3P), Carter has no issues pulling it from past the arc, however his capability as a glass-crasher will probably be an space that Porzingis should account for.

Cole Anthony vs. Derrick White

The Magic being down a number of backcourt choices means one other prolonged look for Cole Anthony, who generally is a microwave scorer on any given night time. Anthony’s utilization and effectivity are all down from previous seasons, however in opposition to Boston, he stepped up, scoring 10 factors with 5 assists in Orlando’s win, ending as a +10. Derrick White dealt with that matchup for many of their first assembly, with Anthony making two of his three makes an attempt over the All-Defensive Workforce guard.

Recently, Anthony has seen his minutes skyrocket as a result of crew’s quite a few accidents, averaging 32 minutes an evening in his previous six video games, scoring 17 factors on 44/32/68 splits.

Keys to the Recreation

Make your open photographs: The taking pictures droop has felt team-wide throughout Boston’s tough interval of play. Since Jan. 1, the Celtics are second in open 3-point frequency (4-6 toes of area) but are simply twenty first in effectivity on these seems (33.6%). In opposition to the league’s second-rated protection in Orlando, one that permits the fewest 3-point makes and makes an attempt within the league, open photographs would possibly really feel tougher to return by, however once they do come obtainable, the Celtics must make the Magic pay.

Look ahead to aggressive protection: Orlando has a top-tier protection for a purpose, even with the rotation consistently shapeshifting to account for his or her harm troubles. Of their earlier matchup, the Magic hounded the ball, disrupting the Celtics’ drive-and-kick sport and turning almost each fourth quarter possession right into a dogfight. Orlando has compelled opponents to show the ball over a median of 17 instances a sport this season, third finest within the league. Irrespective of who is out there for Orlando, they make their opponents work to attain buckets. The Celtics must be prepared for energetic arms on any form of drive to the paint.

Shield the paint: Orlando’s offensive sports activities the worst 3-point taking pictures within the league, and it’s not significantly shut. As a crew, they shoot simply 31% from distance, with the closest “competitor” in that regard being the Washington Wizards and their 33% success charge. Regardless of that, the Magic are a reliable paint-attacking unit, particularly with Paolo Banchero on the ground, who makes 55% of his photographs inside 10 toes. With Al Horford and Porzingis each obtainable together with Luke Kornet, Boston’s bigs must disrupt Orlando’s makes an attempt on the cup, whereas the remainder of Boston’s rotation wants to speak and keep away from defensive lapses that finish in open cuts to the rim.