Photos for Headline Surfer courtesy of Orlando Magic / TOP: Franz Wagner hits a floater for two of his game-high 25 points to bring Orlando within five, 65-60, with 4:02 left in the third quarter, but Orlando would go down to a crushing defeat, 120-89, and a 4-1 opening series exit to the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. BELOW: Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is shown during a break in the action in the third quarter.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
BOSTON -- The Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic at the sold-out TD Garden, 120-89, in Game 5 to win the series 4-1.
Boston's Jayson Tatum was the game's top scorer with 35 points, along with 10 assists, eight rebounds, and four three-pointers.
Jaylen Brown added 23 points and six rebounds in the Celtics' 31-point blowout. The Celtics outscored the Magic 36-13 in the third quarter to take control of the game.
Tuesday’s game turned on Banchero getting whistled for his fifth foul with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter. The Magic were ahead by two before that call, which was an AND-1 layup by Jaylen Brown. The Magic challenged that foul, but it was unsuccessful.
“I was trying my best not to foul. I knew I had four fouls,” Banchero said after the loss. “I feel like I stopped short of him going up. He went up with his elbows out, hit me in the face, and they called it on me. Then, he did the same thing to Cory Joseph, and they called it on Cory. Not sure what that rule is. Maybe I have a misunderstanding of what that rule is, but I was trying my best not to foul.”
Tuesday’s game turned on Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero getting whistled for his fifth foul with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter. The Magic were ahead by two before that call, which was an AND-1 layup by Jaylen Brown. The Magic challenged that foul, but it was unsuccessful. “I was trying my best not to foul. I knew I had four fouls,” Banchero said after the loss. “I feel like I stopped short of him going up. He went up with his elbows out, hit me in the face, and they called it on me. Then, he did the same thing to Cory Joseph, and they called it on Cory. Not sure what that rule is. Maybe I have a misunderstanding of what that rule is, but I was trying my best not to foul.”
Franz Wagner led the Magic in scoring with 25 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Paolo Banchero added 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in the crushing loss that ended the Magic's season.
The Celtics will face the winner of the Detroit Pistons-New York Knicks series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Notable stats from this playoff series
• The Orlando Magic have not won a playoff series since Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and coach Stan Van Gundy led them to the Eastern Conference finals in 2010.
• Jayson Tatum becomes the fourth player in Celtics franchise history to record 35+ points, 10+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a playoff game, joining John Havlicek, Larry Bird, and Rajon Rondo.
• Tatum joins Larry Bird as the only players in Celtics franchise history to record 35+ points in three-straight playoff games, Larry Bird (5/26/1987 - 5/30/1987).
• With his 5th rebound, Al Horford passes Paul Silas (1,527) for 17th on the all-time Playoffs rebounds list. With tonight's game, Al Horford passes Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers (190) for 13th on the all-time postseason games played list.
Multimedia video
Headline Surfer multimedia video / House of Highlights video / Inside the NBA REACTS to Magic vs Celtics GAME 5 Highlights.
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Published: Mon, 04/28/2025 - 05:08
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