The Boston Celtics Summer League squad threw everything they had at the Orlando Magic in Vegas Saturday evening, getting scoring from all thirteen active players, but still couldn’t pull out the win, falling 97-103. It was an entertaining final game at the Thomas and Mack Center, a fast-paced and physical showdown that saw plenty of action, but ultimately, Orlando held on for the victory.
First Quarter Firestorm and Comeback
Talk about starting cold. Boston started the contest with Milos Uzan, John Tonje, Tucker DeVries, Alondes Williams, and Amari Williams on the floor, and Orlando jumped out to a brutal 2-10 lead with Boston hitting only one of their first five shots from the field. Ouch. New Magic head coach Sean Sweeney was on hand to watch his side get up by ten, 9-19, early. But you know what? This Summer Celtics team didn’t quit. Milos Uzan decided enough was enough, draining a three-pointer from the top of the key and following it up with a slick step-back move, putting up five straight points for Boston! Then DeVries got in on the action, lacing a corner triple for his first bucket and then hitting a deep transition heat-check trey. Just like that, Boston was back in it, 15-19, with three minutes left in the quarter. Nick Pringle, Caleb Grill, and Daveon Thomas checked in for some extended minutes. A Chris Jones transition dunk capped a quick run for Boston, and by the end of the fast-paced opening quarter, Nick Pringle dropped a big put-back flush to tie the scores at 24 apiece. What a wild ride!
Scoring Depth and Halftime Lead
The second quarter kicked off with Mo Amini cutting through the lane for a layup, his first points of the game, showing off that depth. Kyle Mangus then hit a three-pointer as the Summer Celtics continued to flex their scoring muscle, with nine players already hitting the scoreboard in just eleven minutes of play. Amari Williams started the second quarter providing pure hustle, grabbing offensive rebounds and getting some interior scoring. John Tonje then laced a two-pointer from the foul line, pushing Boston back up 33-32. DeVries, clearly feeling it, came back in and immediately peeled off a screen at the top of the key to hit his ninth point of the night, assisted by Uzan for his third dime. Grill then hit a deep triple, and John Tonje brought the house down with a loud one-handed tomahawk on the break, putting Boston up 45-43! Wiggins joined the scoring party with the team’s seventh three-pointer, becoming the tenth player to score for the squad. Boston rode that wave into halftime, taking a 3-point lead, 48-45.
Even with the energy and that halftime lead, the Magic found a way to hold on and secure the 103-97 win. It was a tough loss for the Summer Celtics, who showcased incredible scoring depth with all thirteen active players getting on the scoreboard. While it wasn’t the final result we hoped for in Vegas, this team certainly showed some flashes of talent and grit. We’ll be keeping an eye on these guys to see who makes the jump!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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