Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Paolo Banchero added 29, and the Orlando Magic edged the Boston Celtics 95-93 on Friday night to cut Boston’s lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Jayson Tatum returned from a bruised wrist to score 36 points and grab nine rebounds for Boston. Despite their regular-season road success, the Celtics fell to 0-3 in Orlando this season. Game 4 is set for Sunday, again at the Kia Center.
The Celtics struggled from deep, going just 9 of 27 from 3-point range and enduring a 17-minute drought without a three in the second half. Boston committed 21 turnovers against Orlando’s physical defense in a foul-heavy game featuring 43 fouls, a flagrant foul, and 35 total turnovers.
“I feel like it suits our team, our playing style,” Wagner said. “We’ve played like that all year, and I feel like whoever plays more aggressive is going to win in this series.”
Tensions rose when Orlando’s Cole Anthony was assessed a flagrant foul after a play that left Jaylen Brown with a dislocated finger. Brown, who scored 19 points, hinted the physicality could escalate: “Maybe a fight will break out (in Game 4). If you want to fight, we can do that and see who goes to the second round.”
Boston briefly tied the game at 91 on a Derrick White layup with 2:31 left, but Wagner responded with back-to-back baskets to give Orlando a 95-91 lead. White scored again, but the Celtics’ final inbound with 0.3 seconds left was broken up as time expired.
Boston also played without Jrue Holiday, who sat out with a strained hamstring.
Tatum scored 21 points in the first half, helping Boston build an 11-point lead early in the third quarter. But the Celtics missed 17 of their next 19 shots, and Orlando closed the third on a 14-0 run fueled by Wagner and Banchero to take control.
Game 4 is in Orlando on Sunday, April 27, at 7 pm ET on TNT.
