BOSTON, MA — The Boston Celtics continued their impressive run at home with a commanding 128-111 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night. Remarkably, this win came in the absence of their top three big men, showcasing the depth and resilience of the team.
Jayson Tatum led the charge with 30 points, while Payton Pritchard shone brightly off the bench, adding 21 points and excelling from beyond the arc with 6 for 7 on 3-pointers. This performance was part of a collective effort that saw the Celtics’ bench outscore Orlando’s 47-28.
The team was without Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet due to muscle tightness, and veteran Al Horford was rested following his 23-minute play in Thursday’s win over Cleveland. Despite these absences, the Celtics adapted their game, utilizing speed and agility to compensate for their missing players.
This victory marks Boston’s 13th consecutive home win, a feat second only to the 17-game streak set by the legendary 1957-58 team led by Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tommy Heinsohn. The Celtics have not lost a regular-season game at home since March 5 of the previous season, although they did suffer playoff losses, including a critical Game 7 against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.
Jaylen Brown, contributing 18 points, emphasized the team’s focused mentality and the importance of not overlooking any aspect of preparation and execution. This disciplined approach has been key to their exceptional home performance.
Other notable contributions came from Derrick White, who scored 19 points with eight assists and four steals, and Sam Hauser, who also made four steals. Neemias Queta, Boston’s only available 7-footer, blocked three shots. Lamar Stevens, standing at 6-foot-6, started at center and played a crucial role.
For the Orlando Magic, Jalen Suggs led with 19 points, and Goga Bitadze added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Despite their recent success against the Celtics, including a win in an In-Season Tournament game in Orlando, the Magic couldn’t maintain their momentum.
The game saw the Celtics overcoming an initial struggle with their 3-point shooting, eventually finding their rhythm thanks to Pritchard’s timely shots. An 18-7 run towards the end of the first quarter gave Boston a significant lead, which they expanded in the subsequent quarters, at one point leading by as many as 25 points.
The teams are set to face each other again on Sunday in Boston, where the Celtics will aim to extend their home winning streak further.
