With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the first playoff game of his career, Jaylen Brown stepped up in a big way.
Brown poured in 36 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out five assists to lead the Boston Celtics past the Orlando Magic 109-100 on Wednesday night, giving Boston a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
Brown’s assertiveness set the tone early and carried into the fourth quarter, where he and Derrick White combined for 17 of the Celtics’ 28 points to seal the win. White finished with 17. Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points despite briefly exiting with a bloodied forehead that required five stitches.
Boston hit 12 threes and went 25-for-33 at the free-throw line, fending off a second-half push by Orlando. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 32 points and nine rebounds, and Franz Wagner chipped in 25.
Tempers flared again between Al Horford and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, whose Game 1 flagrant foul sidelined Tatum with a wrist bruise. Caldwell-Pope was booed throughout the night and exchanged words with Brown following a second-quarter tangle.
Game 3 is set for Friday night in Orlando.
