The Boston Celtics clinched a 108-97 win over the Orlando Magic Sunday, pushing their early-season record to 5-1, but the stat sheet is screaming something wild: they shot just 44 percent from the floor and a brutal 27 percent from three-point range. How? Jayson Tatum literally bled for this one, dropping 32 points and seven assists, proving grit can absolutely win games when the shots aren’t falling.
Bleeding Green and Grinding It Out
It wasn’t pretty from the jump. The Magic jumped out to a 13-4 lead, looking to burn Boston from the outside, and the Celtics were a step slow. Early on, they were bricking from deep, hitting just 9 percent from three in the first quarter, and a woeful 1 for 15 from distance to start the game. You’d think that’s it, right? Nope. Orlando shot 50 percent from three in that same quarter but coughed up eight turnovers. Boston, thanks to turning defense into offense, ended the first quarter up 24-23. Talk about a gut check.
And speaking of gut checks, Jayson Tatum took a hit to the head, started bleeding, and actually went to the locker room. But this is Tatum we’re talking about, he came right back. He was doing damage all over the floor, leading the team with 17 points by halftime. Shoutout to Hugo González too, in his first start of the season, chipping in 7 points with an and-one and a crafty lefty finish. Luka Garza hit an and-one to give the Celtics the lead in that wild first quarter, later connecting with Tatum for two more. Payton Pritchard kept Orlando off balance and found Baylor Scheierman in the corner for a timely bucket. Jordan Walsh sprayed it to Derrick White for a triple, and Neemias Queta threw down a thunderous dunk. Tatum was even terrific defensively. Even shooting 23 percent from three at the half, Boston won the turnover battle 9-3 and held a 55-50 halftime advantage. This team does not quit, period.
Magic’s Late Push and Boston’s Resolve
Paul George, who looks like he’s been a Celtic forever with how well he’s meshing stylistically, helped push the lead to double digits early in the third. He was stymying Orlando on defense and dishing lobs to Queta, who got the start with Mitchell Robinson resting. White buried another three to extend the margin to 69-54, and Sam Hauser kept the energy sky-high with a diving hustle play and a silky side-step three.
But the Magic, even without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, weren’t going anywhere. They ripped off a 12-0 run, thanks to some serious shotmaking from Tristan da Silva and Anthony Black, who both finished with 23 points. Black even tied the game at 72 with a corner three.
What a grinder, right? The Celtics battled through terrible shooting, a tough Magic squad, and even a bloody Jayson Tatum to pull out that 108-97 win. This early in the season, going 5-1 and showing this kind of fight when your shots aren’t falling? That’s the kind of gritty performance that builds championship momentum. You gotta respect it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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