Time after time this season, the Celtics have overcome key absences to earn gutsy victories. But they didn’t have sufficient magic within the tank Monday evening in Orlando.
The Celtics – already skinny with out three of their regulars – misplaced Jayson Tatum for an vital stretch within the third quarter and nonetheless almost pulled off one other spectacular street comeback. But two double-digit deficits had been finally an excessive amount of for the Celtics to beat in a 113-98 loss to the younger, upstart Orlando Magic, which snapped their nine-game profitable streak.
Tatum and Jaylen Brown every scored 26 factors for the Celtics, who will most likely be blissful to not see the Magic anymore this season. They misplaced the season collection by falling in three of their 4 conferences, which included being swept in a two-game residence collection in Boston final month.
“I just know every game, you have to continue to do those things (to win), and you’re going to run into teams and I think it says more about Orlando,” Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla informed reporters. “I thought the way they played tonight, they were physical, they had an edge about them.”
The C’s – with out starters Marcus Smart and Robert Williams in addition to sixth man Malcolm Brogdon – had dug out of a 14-point gap within the first half after a tough begin and had been in good place halfway by way of the third quarter when the trajectory of the sport modified with a wierd damage to Tatum.
Tatum drilled a 3-pointer from the precise wing – which gave the Celtics a 68-66 lead – after which began wincing and holding his proper aspect as he jogged again on protection. He instantly gave a foul and went straight to the locker room to get some therapy, and after the sport informed reporters it felt like a cramp and that he needs to be superb.
But the Magic took full benefit of the Celtics star’s absence as they reeled off a 20-5 run, capped by Paolo Banchero’s dunk in transition as they took full management of the undermanned C’s. When Tatum returned with 2:04 remaining within the third, the C’s trailed by 13 and couldn’t climb that hill once more regardless of one other admirable effort from their bench unit.
“I think our rim reads, I think their defense was really good protecting the rim and we got good penetration on the first drive, we just didn’t make the right play at the rim every single time and that kind of forced us into some turnovers,” Mazzulla mentioned of that Magic run.
Payton Pritchard, two days after his large efficiency within the Celtics’ win over the Raptors, stepped in once more and impressed, Sam Hauser returned to the rotation and hit some huge pictures, and even Mfiondu Kabengele was given his first minutes since November to start out the fourth quarter because the Celtics discovered a spark.
After trailing by 10 early within the fourth, the C’s responded as Hauser scored 5 consecutive factors, together with a 3-pointer, and trimmed their deficit to a few after Derrick White’s three-point play. Tatum hit a 3 with 6:20 to go that made it a two-point recreation, however they didn’t recover from the hump. The Magic replied with a 10-0 run that put the sport away because the Celtics gave away too many possessions down the stretch. They completed with 18 turnovers, they usually had been outscored 54-32 within the paint.
Other takeaways and notes from Monday’s loss:
– Mazzulla, usually reluctant to name timeouts, has joked that they don’t all the time work. But he referred to as one which sparked a game-changing run within the second quarter.
The Celtics had been being shredded within the paint and in transition in opposition to the extra athletic and energetic Magic and fell behind 43-29 when Mazzulla referred to as timeout and it was precisely what they wanted. The C’s ripped off a 16-1 run as they took their first lead of the evening at 45-44. Horford’s soccer go to Tatum, who muscled in a formidable layup, capped the run. The Magic referred to as a timeout and Horford mockingly threw up a “T” signal together with his fingers to sign it for them because the C’s discovered their juice.
– Since his sizzling October and November, Hauser’s struggles have been noticeable, his minutes have declined and he even fell out of the rotation altogether in opposition to the Warriors and Raptors. But his robust efficiency may very well be essentially the most encouraging takeaway from Monday’s loss.
Hauser scored 13 factors on three 3-pointers in 16 minutes off the bench, which additionally included some hustle performs and inspiring protection. It was a much-needed effort for the second-year function participant who’s making an attempt to regain his confidence and spot within the rotation after he had develop into a key bench participant at first of the 12 months.
“I thought he competed on the defensive end, I thought he moved without the basketball,” Mazzulla informed reporters. “He appeared assured capturing it.
“His defensive positioning was better tonight. I thought his point of contact was more physical and his individual defense. I thought he moved the ball well, so I thought he looked good.”
– The Magic acquired a lift of vitality because of the long-awaited return of Jonathan Isaac, who had final performed in a recreation on Aug. 2, 2020, after struggling a critical knee damage. He scored 10 factors in 10 minutes in his return.
– Smart is daily with the precise ankle sprain he suffered Saturday in opposition to the Raptors, whereas Brogdon is just not with the group as a consequence of private causes. Williams, who left Saturday’s recreation with a hyperextension in his left knee, was initially listed as questionable Monday however finally dominated out. He might return Tuesday in opposition to the Heat with Horford prone to sit on the second evening of a again to again.
Source: www.bostonherald.com