In an exciting game on Monday night, the Orlando Magic turned the tables on the Boston Celtics, overcoming a significant 15-point halftime deficit to win 108-104. Key to the Magic’s comeback was Tristan da Silva, who netted 18 points and hit a crucial 3-pointer with just 9.9 seconds remaining in the game. The Celtics were without star player Jayson Tatum, who was sidelined due to illness.
Jaylen Brown stepped up for Boston, scoring an impressive 35 points. The Celtics led comfortably at halftime with a score of 58-43 but struggled in the second half as the Magic capitalized on their chances. Orlando’s dominant play in the third quarter allowed them to tie the game, and they even extended their lead to 10 points in the fourth quarter. Though the Celtics made a late push, narrowing the score to 105-104 with a layup from Brown, they could not regain the lead. Al Horford’s missed 3-pointer paved the way for da Silva to secure the victory with his decisive shot.
In addition to da Silva, Trevelin Queen scored 17 points in his first NBA start, and Jalen Suggs added 16 for the Magic. The Celtics saw contributions from Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White, who both scored 17 points. The game also featured some theatrics, as Magic center Goga Bitadze was ejected late in the game after intervening in a scuffle between Suggs and Porzingis.
This matchup served as a reminder of the Magic’s resilience, managing to prevail despite missing key players like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The Celtics, on the other hand, faced challenges with their shooting from beyond the arc, connecting on just 8 of 32 attempts, a significant drop from their usual performance.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day, while the Magic are set to face the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
This game highlighted the Magic’s fighting spirit and ability to adapt under challenging circumstances, a statement of hope for their season moving forward. As they continue to build chemistry and resilience, fans can look forward to even more thrilling performances.