The Celtics completed the sweep over the Orlando Magic in their two-game weekend miniseries with their 114–97 win on Sunday afternoon, as Boston clinches the season series two games to one.
Sunday’s victory caps off a perfect 5-0 homestand for the Celtics, as they advance to 14-0 on the season at TD Garden. It’s the first time since February 2016 that the Celtics went unbeaten on a homestand of five games or more.
Despite being shorthanded at times, the Celtics defeated three potential playoff teams in the Eastern Conference, including two (Knicks and Magic) in the top six in the Eastern Conference standings.
It's an impressive feat that did not go unrecognized by Jayson Tatum.
“What we did this week was impressive,” Tatum said postgame. “I’m not certain that last year we would have won all four of these games.”
Offensive rebounding, a key emphasis from Joe Mazzulla this season, helped the Celtics overcome a slow start shooting. The C’s totaled five offensive rebounds in the first quarter, resulting in eight second chance points, keeping things close until Boston’s offense found its stride.
After falling behind by as many as 10 points in the first quarter, the Celtics responded in a big way – outscoring the Magic 34-19 in the second quarter, building a 15-point lead that proved too much for the visitors to overcome.
Boston’s big second quarter was fueled by Jrue Holiday, who poured in a team-high 10 points on 4-of-7 (57.1%) shooting, as the two-time All-Star put together his best half offensively of the season.
For a better part of the 48 minutes Sunday afternoon, the Celtics were the tougher, more physical team and looked like a team really starting to put things together over this home stretch.
“I think we're starting to play what I would call 'Celtic basketball,’” Mazzulla said postgame.
“From a mentality standpoint, from a toughness standpoint, from a defensive standpoint, and an identity. Reflecting what it means to play like the Celtics, and I think this week we showed that.”
With Sunday’s win, the Celtics became the first team in the NBA to reach 20 wins, advancing to 20-5 on the season.
Here are three takeaways as the Celtics head out to the West Coast riding a five-game win streak, holding sole possession of the league’s top record.
Out and runnin’
On Friday night, the Celtics beat the Magic with their speed.
The C’s scored 18 points on the fast break and generated high-percentage (10 corner threes) looks by using their speed to get out and run.
“That’s how I wanna play all the time. Like, let’s run,” Brown said after Friday night's win. “That’s what I’ve been trying to emphasize to our coaching staff and everybody all year.”
Boston’s fast pace bothered the Magic on Friday night, and Sunday was more of the same.
Despite Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford returning to the lineup, Boston’s speed was still too much for Orlando to handle.
The Celtics generated 23 fast break points Sunday afternoon, as they forced misses on the defensive end and continuously pushed the pace, leading to more high-percentage looks.
“What I like is that we’re playing fast, but we’re playing poised as well,” Mazzulla said postgame.
Much like Friday night, Brown was at the forefront of Boston’s transition attack.
“I think a lot of times where we get in trouble is when we walk the ball up, we play slow,” Brown said postgame. “I like the version of us when we’re getting up and down, we’re making the right reads, but with a little bit more pace.”
The defense shines again
After forcing 21 turnovers on Friday night, their second-highest total of the season, Boston’s defense made things difficult for Orlando again on Sunday afternoon.
Though they forced just nine turnovers, the Celtics held Orlando to just 87 points, marking just the second time this season the Magic failed to reach 100 points, and if not for Paolo Banchero, things would’ve looked a lot worse.
Banchero finished with a game-high 36 points on 14-of-30 (46.7%) shooting from the field and 4-of-10 (40%) from deep.
Outside of Banchero, the Magic, as a team, shot 20-of-59 (33.8%) from the field and 7-of-26 (26.9%) from deep. The only Magic player to record double-figures scoring other than Banchero was Jalen Suggs – who finished with 13.
The Celtics also recorded 10 blocked shots from seven different players. Boston has now recorded at least five blocks in each of its last eight games.
“We gotta set the tone on defense first and foremost. We gotta continue to lay that as the groundwork and the foundation for success,” Brown said post-game. I think all of our guys are striving to be All-Defense type of guys, and I want to be the head of that snake. I want to continue to push myself but also push my teammates.”
Orlando's 87 points are tied for the second-fewest Boston has allowed this season and marks the fourth time the Celtics have held their opponent to under 100 points.
Jaylen Brown slams the door shut
Brown has been playing the best basketball of his career for most of this month, and that continued Sunday afternoon.
The two-time All-Star finished with a team-high 31 points on 12-of-20 (60%) shooting from the field and 5-of-8 (62.5%) from deep. Brown also finished tied for the game-high in assists with six and slammed the door on Orlando in the final frame.
The Celtics entered the fourth quarter with a nine-point lead that quickly ballooned up to 17 behind an explosion from Brown.
The 27-year-old blew the game open with 17 fourth-quarter points on 7-of-9 (77.8%) shooting from the field and 3-of-4 (75%) from deep, scoring or assisting on nine of Boston’s 13 fourth quarter makes.
Brown picked up the slack for much of Sunday’s game for the Celtics, as he continued his stretch of phenomenal play.
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