Magic Start NBA Cup with Victory Over Celtics
The Orlando Magic defeated the Boston Celtics 123-110 in their NBA Cup opener on Friday night.
Key Players and Performance
- Franz Wagner led Orlando with 27 points.
- Desmond Bane contributed 22 points and seven assists.
- Paolo Banchero added 15 points and nine rebounds.
- Wendell Carter Jr. scored 18 points with five rebounds.
For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown scored 32 points, Payton Pritchard had 27 points, and Derrick White recorded 16 points and 10 assists.
Game Highlights
Orlando opened strong with a 20-2 run featuring 3-pointers from Wagner, Tristan da Silva, and Anthony Black, creating a 16-point first-quarter lead, their largest of the game.
The Celtics fought back in the second half, tying the game and eventually leading 96-95 midway through the fourth quarter after a jumper by Brown.
Brown impressively scored 14 consecutive points before taking a six-minute break late in the third quarter.
Orlando answered with a decisive 17-4 run, sparked by three-pointers from Wagner, Bane, and Carter, securing their win.
Anfernee Simons added 11 points early in the fourth quarter, helping Boston remain competitive until the closing minutes.
Team Stats and Group Context
- Orlando shot 50% from the field and hit 47.2% of their three-pointers (17 of 36).
- Boston made 13 of 37 three-point attempts (35%).
- The Celtics and Magic are in East Group B of the NBA’s in-season tournament, along with Brooklyn, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
- This was their first meeting since Boston eliminated Orlando in five games during April's first-round playoff series.
"Franz Wagner scored 27 points, Desmond Bane added 22 points and seven assists, and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics 123-110 Friday night in their NBA Cup opener."
Summary: The Orlando Magic surged with timely 3-pointers and balanced scoring to claim a strong opening win against the Celtics in the NBA Cup.