The Orlando Magic’s promising playoff push came to a heartbreaking halt on the parquet floor of TD Garden, as the Boston Celtics dealt the final blow to their postseason hopes in a high-stakes showdown. With the pressure of the play-in race bearing down, the Magic needed a win to keep their season alive—but they ran into a Celtics team that had no intention of easing up, even with the top seed in the East already secured.
From the opening tip, it was clear the Celtics weren’t in a generous mood. Jayson Tatum set the tone early with a barrage of jumpers, while Jaylen Brown relentlessly attacked the rim. The Celtics’ defense clamped down hard on Orlando’s young core, forcing tough shots and stalling their usually fluid offense. By halftime, Boston had built a 17-point lead, and the TD Garden crowd could sense the Magic’s grip on the postseason slipping.
Orlando, to its credit, didn’t fold. Led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic came out swinging in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to single digits midway through the period. Banchero scored 12 points in the quarter alone, attacking mismatches and hitting key mid-range shots. However, every time the Magic made a push, Boston answered with a dagger—whether it was a Tatum three, a timely Marcus Smart steal, or a putback dunk from Kristaps Porziņģis.
As the clock wound down in the fourth, the urgency was evident on the faces of the Magic players. They were playing not just to extend their season, but to prove that their young, rebuilt roster belonged in the playoff conversation. Down six with three minutes to go, they had multiple opportunities to flip the script. But costly turnovers and missed free throws in crunch time sealed their fate.
Boston closed out the game on a 9–2 run, winning 113–102 and sending the Magic back to the locker room—and ultimately, into offseason mode. The Celtics, meanwhile, looked every bit like a championship contender, moving the ball with precision and tightening their defense when it mattered most.
After the game, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley praised his team’s fight but acknowledged the disappointment. “This one hurts,” he said. “Our guys gave everything all season, and we were right there. But tonight, we got beat by a great team that executed better in the biggest moments.”
For Orlando, the loss marks the end of a season filled with growth, hope, and flashes of brilliance. The young core made strides, and their defense ranked among the league’s best for much of the year. But the lack of experience—and consistent shooting—proved costly in a game where every possession counted.
As for Boston, the win is another step toward their ultimate goal. They eliminated a hungry young team with composure and poise, and now turn their full attention to the playoffs with momentum firmly in their favor.
For Orlando, the message is clear: the future is bright, but the present will have to wait.
