As the clock dwindled near four minutes remaining, Jayson Tatum buried a pull-up three from the top of the key. The triple pushed Tatum past the 30-point plateau and the Celtics’ lead to 26.
Fans began to head for the exits to beat the Friday night traffic, and with them, left the nervous energy lingering from the abomination that took place north of the border on Wednesday night.
A 27-point win over a – albeit banged up – playoff-caliber Orlando Magic team was exactly what the Celtics needed. A night where everything clicked for Boston as they returned to being the dominant, well-oiled machine fans have been looking for.
“I think it was healthy for us to get an ugly loss [in Toronto],” said Kristaps Porzingis. “A little bit like a wake-up call. We’ve been kind of up and down lately, and getting a loss like that really stung. Tonight, we looked like a different team.”
There was a shift in tone from the Celtics following Wednesday night’s loss. Typically upbeat and confident through their recent inconsistency, there was a sense of frustration and urgency as Boston returned with something to prove—and they did just that.
“We understood we had an opportunity here to come out at home and respond,” Al Horford said. “This is the type of game I feel like we can learn from.”
It wasn’t perfect, but it was just what the doctor ordered. Boston finally saw shots fall, hitting 17 of their 37 three-point attempts (45.9%). It was the first time in five games they shot better than 34% from beyond the arc. Boston’s 17 threes were the most allowed by Orlando this season, who entered the night allowing a league-low 11.4 threes per game and holding opponents to a league-worst 30.7% from deep.
The makes came from all over, and they came at a very efficient rate. Five of the six Celtics who hit at least two three-pointers shot 44.4% or better.
“It definitely felt good to hit some shots, but I just liked how physical we were from the beginning,” Jayson Tatum said. “The starters haven’t necessarily started the game as well as we’d like recently. But I think tonight, we matched their intensity from the beginning, and the guys that came off the bench did an excellent job of pushing it forward.”
The starting five of Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis have faced their share of criticism. Heading into the night, they posted a 108.5 offensive rating (which would rank fourth-worst in the NBA), a 120.3 defensive rating (dead last), and a -11.8 net rating (second-worst). Over 147 minutes together, they had been outscored by 40 points. In first quarters alone, they were a -26.
But on Friday, they answered the call. In the 20 minutes they shared the floor, they outscored the Magic by 15—marking their best point differential of the season (previously +3). They finished with 56 points on 21-of-37 shooting (56.8%), including 9-of-18 from three (50%), and tallied 12 assists. They hit eight of their first 12 shots (66.7%) and were a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, helping to build a six-point cushion. By halftime, they had stretched the lead to 12, then pushed it to 18 early in the third.
“I liked just how connected we were on both ends of the floor, especially on defense,” Tatum said. “Everybody was on the same page; we were connected and helping each other out. So regardless of the plus-minus or the result of the game, the way we went about it was a lot better today.”
From top to bottom, the Celtics were much improved in how they went about their business. They were active on both ends of the floor, returning to the fundamentals that have fueled their success. They attacked down low, getting paint touches, and knocked down shots, finishing the night shooting 52.5%. They also forced their opponents to miss, with Orlando shooting just 34-of-82 (41.5%) from the field and a dismal 5-of-32 (15.6%) from beyond the arc. Boston battled hard on the glass, owning a +4 rebounding advantage, and played with clear intent and purpose throughout the game.
“I think our ball pressure, our pick-up points, were good,” said Joe Mazzulla. “Our shift activity was good. I think we were active. We had multiple efforts on that. So, I think just getting up to a good start, from a physicality and a ball-pressure standpoint, was key.”
The Celtics received a collection of individual efforts across the board—on both ends of the floor—highlighted by Tatum’s 30 points (57.1% shooting), six rebounds, and four assists, Brown’s relentless defense and 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists, and another 23 points from Porzingis on 70%, which helped steer the ship back in the right direction following their worst loss of the season.
“It’s important that we have good games individually,” Porzingis said. “Obviously, the results will come together. Today was a good bounce-back game for us.”
Friday night was a reminder of what the Celtics are capable of—a much-needed palate cleanser after a brutal loss. But it doesn’t mean they’re out of the woods yet. Over their last 17 games, they’ve won back-to-back games just twice. We’ve seen them bounce back before, only to stumble in the next game. That’s a pitfall Boston must avoid on Saturday night against the Hawks as they look to break free from this slump and use Friday’s performance as a stepping stone.
“It’s just a matter of continuing to emphasize just the small decisions that you got to make daily that just go into winning,” said Mazzulla. “We did it today, and we have to do it again tomorrow. So, really, just continue to hammer home the process of winning and try to stick to that as best we can.”
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