Jayson Tatum, Celtics too sharp for Magic

Posted by siteadmin
April 29, 2025
Posted in SPORTS
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after beating the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after beating the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Jayson Tatum collected game-highs of 37 points and 14 rebounds to lead the visiting Boston Celtics to a 107-98 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series yesterday (Philippine time).

The second-seeded Celtics made 30 of their 32 free-throw attempts as they took a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series.

Orlando tied the game at 91 on Wendell Carter, Jr.’s putback with 4:18 to play, but Boston seized control by scoring 10 of the next 11 points.

Four of Boston’s five starters scored at least 18 points. Jaylen Brown had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Kristaps Porzingis tossed in 19 points and Derrick White finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Paolo Banchero led seventh-seeded Orlando with 31 points. Carter supplied nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Cory Joseph added 12 points and Anthony Black had 10 for the Magic.

Boston’s Jrue Holiday missed his second straight game in the series with a right hamstring strain. Boston’s reserves were limited to six points, all from Sam Hauser.

The Celtics were 9-of-31 (29 percent) on three-point attempts, while Orlando was 8-of-30 (26.7 percent).

Boston led 32-29 after one quarter and stretched its lead to nine, 42-33, with 7:46 left in the second quarter. Orlando went in front 48-46 on a layup by Banchero with 3:17 remaining in the first half. The Celtics finished the quarter on a 7-0 run and had a 53-48 halftime lead.

The Celtics kept their poise, Banchero said.

“Their experience showed. They weren’t rattled at all. They were really sharp, I would say, in those final four minutes. Gotta play a full 48 minutes to win a basketball game,” he said.

Orlando edged Boston 27-26 in the third quarter, which left Boston with a 79-75 advantage entering the final 12 minutes. Brown scored 11 points in the third.

The Celtics can advance if they win Game 5 in Boston. (Field Level Media / Reuters)

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