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The Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics are set to clash in a highly anticipated first-round playoff matchup tomorrow at TD Garden. With the postseason officially underway, this game sets the tone for what could be a thrilling series between one of the East’s top contenders and a surging young squad hungry to prove themselves.
Let’s dive into how both teams fared during the regular season and what to expect when the ball tips at 3:30 PM ET.
The Magic finished as the 8th seed in the East after convincingly defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In Tournament. Despite dealing with a string of injuries throughout the regular season, they managed to stay competitive thanks to one of the top defensive units in the league and the steady development of their young core.
Paolo Banchero continues to lead the charge. The 2023 Rookie of the Year averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists this season. After missing a short stretch due to an oblique injury earlier in the year, Banchero returned to form and looked sharp in the win over Atlanta, putting up 17 points, dishing out 7 assists grabbing 9 rebounds and controlling the offense.
Alongside him, Franz Wagner has become a true two-way force. He’s become a dependable scorer and secondary creator, especially when Banchero was sidelined. Wagner averaged 24.1 points per game and remains a key part of Orlando’s defensive identity.
The Magic’s defensive foundation is anchored by Jalen Suggs, but unfortunately, he is not playing due to injury. That leaves a hole defensively in the backcourt, but Orlando has elite defenders elsewhere like Jonathan Isaac. Meanwhile, big men like Wendell Carter Jr., Moritz Wagner and Goga Bitadze provide depth and size, though the frontcourt will be tested against Boston’s floor spacing. It will be interesting to see how this Orlando team fares without Suggs in this series. If he were here, we could discuss a whole different series.
The Celtics wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season with the third-best record in the NBA, finishing just behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City. Despite not topping the standings this year, Boston is still the team to beat, reigning NBA champions with one of the deepest and most balanced rosters.
Jayson Tatum continues to play like a franchise cornerstone, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Coming off his first NBA title last season, Tatum knows how to rise to the occasion. Expect him to set the tone in Game 1 with aggressive scoring and high-level shot-making.
His running-mate Jaylen Brown provides a deadly secondary scoring punch, and his athleticism and defensive versatility give Boston the edge against Orlando’s wings. Brown had a strong close to the regular season and is always a threat to swing a playoff game with his two-way play.
Jrue Holiday and Derrick White form arguably the best defensive backcourt in the NBA. Holiday brings playoff experience, unselfishness and elite perimeter defense. White continues to shine as one of the league’s most underrated guards.
Add in Kristaps Porziņģis, who’s been a perfect frontcourt complement with his rim protection and floor spacing, and the Celtics look as dangerous as they did during last year’s title run.
This matchup features two contrasting timelines: Orlando is just beginning its rise with a young core built on defense and versatility, while Boston is firmly in championship-or-bust mode with a loaded, battle-tested roster.
The Magic will try to slow the game and make it a physical, grind-it-out contest. But Boston has the tools to push the pace when needed, exploit mismatches and lock down defensively. The key will be how Orlando handles the Celtics’ perimeter pressure and whether Banchero can create consistent offense against elite defenders.
In the end, look for Jayson Tatum to take over late. He’s been through the playoff wars, and he knows what it takes to win on this stage. With home-court advantage and superior depth, the Celtics should come out focused in Game 1.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.