Boston Celtics
Live Blog EndedDec 23, 2024

Celtics-Magic recap: C's come up short in physical matchup

Boston blew a 15-point lead in the 108-104 defeat.

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Eddie House and Chris Forsberg offer their instant reaction and analysis to the Celtics’ 108-104 loss to the Magic.

What to Know

  • The Magic won the first matchup of the season, 108-104.
  • Jaylen Brown dropped a game-high 35 points in the loss.
  • Kristaps Porzingis got into it with Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze; Bitadze was ejected
  • C's will look to bounce back on Christmas Day vs. Philadelphia.

The Boston Celtics fell to the Orlando Magic in a thrilling matchup at Kia Center on Monday night, 108-104.

Boston struggled mightily from 3-point range (8-for-32) and turned the ball over 18 times in the defeat. Orlando had 20 turnovers, but found a way to outlast the C's with physicality and stout defense.

With Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) sidelined, Jaylen Brown dropped a game-high 35 points for the Celtics in the losing effort. Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and was the center of attention in the fourth quarter when he got into it with Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze.

Check out our live blog below for a full recap of Monday night's game:

DEC 23, 20249:42 PM EST

FINAL: Magic 108, Celtics 104

Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty ImagesJalen Suggs

Jalen Suggs stepped up for the short-handed Magic on Monday night.

The short-handed Orlando Magic didn't back down vs. the reigning champion Boston Celtics on Monday night.

Missing several players due to injury, including Mo Wagner and Paolo Banchero, Orlando outlasted Boston with its physicality and perimeter defense. The Celtics shot an uncharacteristic 8-32 (25 percent) from 3-point range while the Magic shot 13-33 (39.4 percent) from deep.

The C's led by 15 points at the half but watched their lead disappear in the third quarter. The Magic tied it up heading into the fourth quarter and escaped Kia Center with the 108-104 win.

It was a physical matchup throughout the game between the two Eastern Conference contenders. Tensions boiled over late in the fourth quarter when Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis got into it with Magic guard Jalen Suggs. The two exchanged words before Orlando big man Goga Bitadze inserted himself in the dust-up and grabbed Porzingis near the throat.

DEC 23, 202410:52 PM EST

Jaylen: C's ‘should've met their physicality better'

Jaylen Brown spoke candidly after Monday's loss about the Celtics not matching the Magic's physicality:

Jaylen Brown reacts to loss to Magic: We should've met their physicality better
Jaylen Brown talks about the Orlando Magic out-physicaling the Celtics in their 108-104 loss to them.
DEC 23, 202410:48 PM EST

Porzingis reacts to altercation with Bitadze, Suggs in Celtics-Magic

Porzingis reacts to altercation with Bitadze, Suggs in Celtics-Magic

Kristaps Porzingis reacts to his dust-up with Goga Bitadze that led to the Magic big man getting ejected.

Tensions boiled over late in Monday night's matchup between the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.

Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis and Magic guard Jalen Suggs got in each other's faces and exchanged words in the fourth quarter, The situation escalated when Orlando big man Goga Bitadze grabbed Porzingis near the throat and both sides needed to be held back.

Watch the incident below:

After review, Porzingis and Suggs received technical fouls and Bitadze was ejected for getting physical.

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DEC 23, 202410:23 PM EST

Instant reaction to Celtics' loss to Magic

Eddie House and our Celtics Postgame Live crew react to Boston's 108-104 defeat:

DEC 23, 20249:58 PM EST

Celtics 3s streak snapped

The Celtics made only eight three-pointers vs. Orlando, ending their streak of 52 consecutive games with at least 10 3s. That was the fifth-longest streak of all time, per Celtics stats guru Dick Lipe.

DEC 23, 20249:30 PM EST

Getting chippy in Orlando

Kristaps Porzingis got into it with Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze late in the fourth quarter. It started as an exchange between Porzingis and Suggs, then Bitadze inserted himself into the dust-up and got physical with Porzingis.

Porzingis and Suggs received double technicals. Bitadze was ejected for grabbing Porzingis near the throat.

DEC 23, 20249:17 PM EST

Fun finish ahead

Score: 100-93 Magic, 4:38 left in fourth quarter

This physical matchup is trending toward a fun finish in Orlando. The Magic remain up seven as the C's have yet to rediscover their groove offensively.

Jaylen Brown has done his part with a game-high 31 points, but he's just 1-for-6 from 3-point range. Boston is 6-for-28 (21.4 percent) from deep as a team.

DEC 23, 20249:03 PM EST

Magic pull ahead

Score: 86-79 Magic, 10:07 left in fourth quarter

Orlando has its largest lead of the night as Boston's struggles have continued in the fourth. The Magic are on a 7-0 run to start the quarter, just as they began the third.

DEC 23, 20248:56 PM EST

End of third quarter

Score: 79-79

We've got a good one at Kia Center as the Magic erased a 15-point deficit to tie it heading into the fourth quarter.

Jalen Suggs has led the short-handed Magic with 16 points. Jaylen Brown has a game-high 24 for the C's.

DEC 23, 20248:48 PM EST

Brand new ballgame

Score: 69-69, 3:08 left in third quarter

We're all knotted up at 69 with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter as the Celtics' offensive woes continue. Orlando is outscoring Boston 26-11 in the frame.

The C's are an uncharacteristic 4-for-21 (19 percent) from 3-point range.

DEC 23, 20248:39 PM EST

Jaylen helps C's snap out of slump

Score: 68-59 Celtics, 6:22 left in third quarter

The Celtics were struggling offensively in the third quarter, then Jaylen Brown decided enough was enough. He scored on back-to-back possessions, including an emphatic slam, to prompt a Magic timeout. He's up to a game-high 24 points.

DEC 23, 20248:26 PM EST

Magic red-hot to start second half

Score: 58-50 Celtics, 10:15 left in third quarter

Orlando has cut the deficit to eight with a 7-0 start to the third quarter. Jalen Suggs scored four of those points and now leads the Magic with 11.

DEC 23, 20248:13 PM EST

Tatum officially ruled out

Jayson Tatum was a late scratch from the Celtics' starting lineup due to a non-COVID illness, but he was officially listed as questionable. At halftime, the C's officially ruled their superstar out for the game.

DEC 23, 20248:08 PM EST

Halftime

Score: 58-43 Celtics

The C's take a comfortable lead in the locker room with Jaylen Brown (19 points), Derrick White (10 points), and Jrue Holiday (10 points) leading the way. Boston is shooting 51.1 percent from the floor despite Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) being a late scratch from the starting lineup.

Orlando is shooting just 33.3 percent from the floor. Jalen Suggs and Tristan da Silva lead the short-handed group with seven points apiece.

DEC 23, 20248:01 PM EST

C's winning in the paint

Score: 50-39 Celtics, 2:34 left in second quarter

The Celtics are just 3-for-14 from 3-point range, but they've done damage in the paint throughout the first half. Thirty of their 50 points have come from inside.

Jaylen Brown leads the group with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

DEC 23, 20247:51 PM EST

Stock Exchange providing a spark

Score: 39-30 Celtics, 8:00 left in second quarter

The Celtics' guard duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, nicknamed the "Stock Exchange," have given Boston an early boost. Both have six points on a combined 5-of-11 shooting. They also both have three rebounds and a steal.

Jalen Suggs leads the Magic with seven points.

DEC 23, 20247:37 PM EST

End of first quarter

Score: 32-21 Celtics

Boston takes a double-digit lead into the second quarter behind a 15-point outburst by Jaylen Brown in the opening frame. Derrick White has five points for the C's and Payton Pritchard has four off the bench.

Jalen Suggs leads the Magic with seven points. Boston is shooting 53.6 percent from the floor to Orlando's 34.8 percent.

DEC 23, 20247:29 PM EST

Jaylen putting on a show

Score: 24-14 Celtics, 2:34 left in first quarter

Jaylen Brown already has 11 points (5-9 FG), three rebounds, two steals, and an assist through the first nine minutes. His effort has propelled Boston to a 10-point lead with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter.

Goga Bitadze leads the Magic with six points. Orlando already has six turnovers.

DEC 23, 20247:19 PM EST

Tatum-less C's start strong

Score: 13-6 Celtics, 6:51 left in first quarter

Despite Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) being scratched from the starting lineup just minutes before tip-off, the Celtics are up seven early with all five starters in the scoring column. Derrick White leads the group with five points.

Boston is shooting 6-of-12 from the floor midway through the opening quarter.

There is still a chance Tatum could play as he has not officially been ruled out. Stay tuned for updates.

DEC 23, 20247:10 PM EST

Tatum a late scratch

Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) was scratched from the Celtics' starting lineup just minutes before tip-off. He was replaced by big man Al Horford.

DEC 23, 20246:36 PM EST

Starting lineups

Celtics: Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis.

Magic: Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Trevelin Queen, Tristan da Silva, Goga Bitadze

DEC 23, 20245:20 PM EST

Hauser back for Celtics

The Celtics will have sharpshooter Sam Hauser back in the mix Monday night after he missed Saturday's game due to low back spasms.

DEC 23, 202411:31 AM EST

Tatum has great take on NBA MVP race, main goal for Celtics

Tatum has great take on NBA MVP race, main goal for Celtics

After his MVP-level performance vs. the Bulls, Jayson Tatum talks about the MVP conversation and being the first Celtic to have a 40-point triple-double since Larry Bird

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is the best player on the NBA's best team. It's a great spot to be in, but it might not help his case for league MVP.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps released the results of his first MVP straw poll of the season last week. Many of the participants in Bontemps' poll will have an actual vote for the award at the end of the season. Tatum came in fourth place in the voting and didn't earn a single first-place vote from the 100 ballots cast.

Tatum gave an MVP-caliber performance versus the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. He scored 43 points with 16 rebounds and 10 assists as the Celtics won 123-98. It was the first time a Celtics player ever tallied 40-plus points, 15-plus rebounds and 10-plus assists in a game. The last Celtic to have a 40-point triple-double was Larry Bird.

Tatum was asked about the MVP race and his candidacy after the victory in Chicago, and he gave a really thoughtful response.

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