Boston beat Orlando 108-97 for a fifth straight win and a 5-1 record, though a 12-0 Magic run cut a 15-point lead to three in the third quarter. The Celtics now travel to Houston, 6-1, tomorrow.
The lead was thinned twice and never surrendered.
Boston led 55-50 at the half, then opened the third with a 9-0 run to go up 64-50. Orlando answered with 12-0 and it was 69-66 with 3:58 left in the quarter, which brought a Celtics timeout. A second Magic burst, 8-0 in the fourth, trimmed 97-85 to 97-93. Both runs ended with Boston still ahead. After the second one the Celtics outscored Orlando 11-4 to finish. Five lead changes and four ties in 48 minutes describe a game that stayed closer than the final margin.
The closing group was mostly bench, and it held.
The last five minutes belonged to Scheierman, Garza, George, Pritchard and Hauser. George scored 10 in the fourth, with Pritchard and Scheierman adding 5 each. Garza gave 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 21 minutes at +11. Scheierman made 4 of 5 shots for 10 points at +10. The bench produced 32 of the 108 points. One game does not make a rotation, but the unit finished the job when Orlando had closed to four.
Tatum earned his 32 at the line, and the grades reflect it.
Tatum gets a B+. He shot 8-19 from the field and 1-5 from three, turned the ball over four times, and still scored 32 because he hit 15-17 free throws. White gets an A-: 12 points, 2 steals, one turnover and a team-best +18 in 34 minutes. Queta earns a B for 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, though the team was outscored by 2 with him on the floor. Walsh had the worst mark at -4 in 13 minutes, which in an 11-point win is a footnote.
Houston is a sterner test than Orlando, and the margin for error is thin.
Boston is 5-1, the third seed, and three games clear of 11th. A pace of 68-14 is arithmetic on six games, not a forecast. The Rockets are 6-1 and have posted a 121.2 offensive rating and a 108.9 defensive rating in seven games, with Steven Adams out. Boston plays them tomorrow after one day of rest. Mitchell Robinson is listed out for rest with a return date of November 2, and Devin Carter is out until about November 8.
What was the score of the Celtics-Magic game on November 1?
Boston won 108-97 in Orlando. The Celtics led by as many as 15 and held off a 12-0 Magic run in the third quarter.
What is the Celtics' record after beating the Magic?
Boston is 5-1 with a five-game winning streak and sits as the third seed. Its only loss so far came on opening night at Detroit.
