Game ID: 22300344
Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics
Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 27 34 22 31 114ORL 31 19 24 23 97
BOS vs ORL ScoutingBOS vs ORL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 12/08 · 3 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 29 min (101% of 29)
OUT Brissett missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 10)
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Queta back 11/26 after 3, 13 min since (113% of 11)
BOS availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Queta missed 2 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 29 min since (101% of 29)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 30 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/15 · back-to-backOUT Queta missed 4 since 12/04, returns tonight: 18 min (163% of 11)
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 12/12, returns tonight: 16 min (149% of 10)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BOS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 18 min since (163% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 8 min since (76% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 30 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 17 min since (155% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 6 min since (58% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/20 · back-to-backOUT Kornet missed 4 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 18 min since (165% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 8 min since (75% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Kornet missed 5 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 19 min since (166% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 10 min since (96% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 6 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 19 min since (174% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/15 after 2, 12 min since (112% of 10)
ORL availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 15 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 12 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/01 after 2, 7 min since (42% of 16)
NEW Anthony 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 20 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 16 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 13 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
NEW Anthony 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 22 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 17 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 14 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 3 since 12/02, returns tonight: 13 min (82% of 16)
NEW Black 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 18 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 15 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/01 after 2, 10 min since (62% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 16 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (90% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/20 · 2 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 20 since 11/04, returns tonight: 23 min (91% of 26)
OUT Fultz missed 17 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (94% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 27 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Fultz missed 18 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 23 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 15 min since (89% of 16)
NEW Black 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Fultz missed 19 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 3 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 22 min since (87% of 26)
BACK Isaac back 12/11 after 3, 14 min since (88% of 16)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 24 min over the last 4
ORL availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Suggs missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 29 min (106% of 28)
OUT Fultz missed 20 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Ingles missed 4 since 12/17, out tonight
BACK Carter Jr. back 12/20 after 20, 20 min since (80% of 26)
NEW Black 16 to 23 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Brown at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without Carter Jr. (19 straight), Fultz (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 38 percent from three to Orlando's 30 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-2 a night and Orlando minus-3. Call it Boston 117, Orlando 110.
12/08 vs NYK 133-123 — BOS notes
BOS won 133-123. BOS shot 53% (48 of 91) to NYK's 50%, 19 of 47 from three, and got to the line 21 times to NYK's 27. BOS turned it over 7 times to NYK's 13. The glass went 34-44 against them. White led with 30 (10 of 16, 6 of 10 from three); Tatum added 25, Porziņģis 21. The hinge was Q2, 41-33: a lead of 1 became 9, and the lead reached 20. White was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/12 vs CLE 120-113 — BOS notes
BOS won 120-113. BOS shot 45% (38 of 84) to CLE's 48%, 18 of 44 from three, and went to the line 26 times to CLE's 9 — 26 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 45-35 for them. Tatum led with 25 (7 of 19, 2 of 9 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Brown added 25, Porziņģis 21. The hinge was Q2, 38-29: the deficit went from 10 to 1. BOS trailed 59-60 at the half and won the second half 61-53. Hauser was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/14 vs CLE 116-107 — BOS notes
BOS won 116-107. BOS shot 51% (43 of 85) to CLE's 48%, 13 of 36 from three. Tatum led with 27 (9 of 22, 3 of 10 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Brown added 22, Porziņģis 18. The hinge was Q1, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead. Holiday was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
12/15 vs ORL 128-111 — BOS notes
BOS won 128-111. BOS shot 52% (48 of 92) to ORL's 48%, 18 of 42 from three. BOS turned it over 10 times to ORL's 21. The glass went 34-45 against them. Tatum led with 30 (11 of 22, 2 of 9 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Pritchard added 21, White 19. The hinge was Q3, 37-27: a lead of 13 became 23. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/17 vs ORL 114-97 — BOS notes
BOS won 114-97. BOS shot 47% (45 of 95) to ORL's 38%, 17 of 36 from three, and got to the line 8 times to ORL's 24. BOS turned it over 14 times to ORL's 8. The glass went 55-43 for them. Brown led with 31 (12 of 20, 5 of 8 from three); Tatum added 23, Porziņģis 15. The hinge was Q2, 34-19: BOS came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 23. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/19 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 122, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Green (3 straight), Payton II (8 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Golden State's 122 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-8 a night and Boston plus-1. Call it Boston 118, Golden State 115, Golden State keeping it close.
12/20 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 28 and Murray at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Tatum at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 112 a night to Sacramento's 119 and the arc, Sacramento at 43 percent from three to Boston's 38. Call it Sacramento 118, Boston 117, Boston keeping it close.
12/23 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 121, shooting 54 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and George at 25 a game. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tucker (12 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Tatum at 24 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Boston's 18 and the defense, Boston allowing 113 a night to the Clippers' 121. Call it the Clippers 119, Boston 118, Boston keeping it close.
12/25 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; James at 28 and Davis at 27 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Vincent (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Tatum at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and the Lakers minus-4 and the arc, Boston at 43 percent from three to the Lakers' 36. Call it Boston 120, the Lakers 114.
12/06 @ CLE 111-121 — ORL notes
ORL lost 111-121. ORL shot 49% (41 of 84) to CLE's 53%, 2 of 23 from three, and went to the line 37 times to CLE's 20 — 27 points from the stripe to their 15. Banchero led with 42 (16 of 26, 1 of 5 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Anthony added 19, F. Wagner 14. Q2 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 93-79 against them. Houstan's -13 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs DET 123-91 — ORL notes
ORL won 123-91. ORL shot 55% (49 of 89) to DET's 42%, 10 of 26 from three. ORL turned it over 9 times to DET's 15. F. Wagner led with 27 (12 of 20, 2 of 4 from three); Banchero added 24, Anthony 16. The hinge was Q3, 35-24: a lead of 14 became 25, and the lead reached 34. Bitadze was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/11 vs CLE 104-94 — ORL notes
ORL won 104-94. ORL shot 46% (39 of 84) to CLE's 35%, 7 of 26 from three, and got to the line 25 times to CLE's 33. Banchero led with 20 (9 of 21, 0 of 3 from three); F. Wagner added 19, Bitadze 15. The hinge was Q3, 30-15: ORL came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 18. ORL trailed 51-54 at the half and won the second half 53-40. Black was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/15 @ BOS 111-128 — ORL notes
ORL lost 111-128. ORL shot 48% (42 of 87) to BOS's 52%, 14 of 35 from three. ORL turned it over 21 times to BOS's 10, and BOS turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 45-34 for them. Suggs led with 19 (7 of 12, 5 of 9 from three); F. Wagner added 17, Anthony 17. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 23 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 101-78 against them. Banchero's -13 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/17 @ BOS 97-114 — ORL notes
ORL lost 97-114. ORL shot 38% (34 of 89) to BOS's 47%, 11 of 36 from three, and went to the line 24 times to BOS's 8 — 18 points from the stripe to their 7. ORL turned it over 8 times to BOS's 14. The glass went 43-55 against them. Banchero led with 36 (14 of 30, 4 of 10 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Suggs added 13. Q1 was theirs, 31-27, but the other 3 periods went 87-66 against them. They led by as many as 10. Harris's -26 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and F. Wagner at 17 a game. Without Carter Jr. (20 straight), Fultz (17 straight). 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Jaquez Jr. at 17 a game. Without Jović (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Miami at 42 percent from three to Orlando's 30 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Orlando minus-2. Call it Orlando 113, Miami 111, Miami keeping it close.
12/21 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 136 a night and allowing 121, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 33 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 31 and Lillard at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Crowder (18 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Banchero at 21 and F. Wagner at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Fultz (18 straight), Ingles (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Milwaukee wins, and the game turns on the line, where Milwaukee takes 33 free throws a game to Orlando's 21 and the defense, Orlando allowing 108 a night to Milwaukee's 121. Call it Milwaukee 122, Orlando 113.
12/23 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 129, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 16 and Nesmith at 15 a game. Without Sheppard (3 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Banchero at 21 and F. Wagner at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Fultz (19 straight), Ingles (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 114 a night to Indiana's 129 and the arc, Indiana at 37 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Indiana 119, Orlando 118, Orlando keeping it close.
12/26 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. 3 days' rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without Suggs (2 straight), Fultz (20 straight), Ingles (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-8 and the arc, Washington at 39 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Washington 118, Orlando 117, Orlando keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
CH C. Houstan
CO C. Okeke
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
GH G. Harris
JH J. Howard
JI J. Isaac
JS J. Suggs
MW M. Wagner
PB P. Banchero
SC Schofield
BOSAH A. Horford
DB D. Banton
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LS L. Stevens
NQ N. Queta
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
ORL/BOS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jaylen Brown's big 4th quarter carries Celtics to 114-97 win over Magic for 14-0 start at home
BOSTON -- — Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis has a message for teams coming into TD Garden.
“For a visiting team to come into this building and beat us, its got to be a special night for them and we totally believe that,” he said after the Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 114-97 on Sunday to improve to an NBA-best 14-0 at home.
Jaylen Brown scored 17 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter for Boston, which made 17 3-pointers.
It’s the Celtics’ second-best start at home, behind the 1957-58 club led by Bill Russell that opened with 17 straight wins the fall after capturing the first of its 17 NBA titles. The Celtics have won five straight overall to improve to 20-5, a half-game ahead of Minnesota for the NBA lead.
“I think we're starting to play what I would call Celtic basketball,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “From a mentality standpoint, from a toughness standpoint, from defensive standpoint and identity.”
Jayson Tatum added 23 points, Porzingis had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jrue Holiday scored 14 points for Boston, which completed a sweep of consecutive games at TD Garden against the Magic.
Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 36 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Suggs added 13 points for the Magic, who shot just 38.2%.
Porzingis and Al Horford returned to Boston’s lineup after missing Friday’s 17-point victory. Porzingis was sidelined with a calf injury and the 37-year-old Horford for rest after playing a game the night earlier.
“I wouldn't say impossible,'” Banchero said when asked about the difficulty of stopping the Celtics when they're making 3s. “I would say they're very hard to stop when the 3-ball is going in like it was today.”
The Celtics led by nine entering the final quarter and Brown scored 10 of their initial 12 points to help them keep their distance. He did it from different areas of the floor, connecting on a 3-pointer from both the top of the key and right corner to go along with left baseline and foul-line jumpers.
He added a transition 3 that gave Boston a 103-86 edge with 6:25 to play and closed his big final quarter with a fadeaway from the right wing.
“When my 3-ball is going in, I don't think there's anybody, anything anybody can do,” Brown said. “I'm going to be aggressive getting to the basket, which everybody knows I want to do. When that 3-ball is going in at a high clip, it makes it tough (to guard me).”
Tatum picked up his third foul midway into the second quarter when Magic coach Jamahl Mosley challenged a blocking call against Franz Wagner , but that didn’t hurt the Celtics’ offense.
The Celtics just went on a run with Tatum on the end of the bench.
The teams were tied at 41 after Banchero’s jumper with 5:48 left in the half before Brown scored nine points during a 20-5 surge over a stretch of nearly five minutes that pushed the Celtics to a 61-50 halftime edge.
The Magic tried playing some zone defense during the stretch, it just didn’t slow down Boston’s spurt.
“This is not a moral victory,” Mosley said. “We competed, we're growing. Those are great things and that's the truth. The reality is these guys are not happy about not getting the game because they feel they're at a good level of basketball and we can compete against the best teams.”
UP NEXT
Magic: Host the Heat on Wednesday night.
Celtics: At the Warriors on Tuesday, the first of four straight on the West Coast.