The Celtics remain the favorite to take a 2-0 lead Wednesday night even sans Tatum, without whom Boston went 8-2 this season. It’s notable, however, that both losses came against the Magic (one of those games saw all of Boston’s starters sit late in the regular season).
Orlando has a clean injury report for Game 2 outside of Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner, who have long been ruled out for the season.
Tip-off at TD Garden is at 7 p.m. Here’s your preview.
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: NBCSB, TNT, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Boston -10.5. O/U: 196.5.
MAGIC
Season record: 42-42. vs. spread: 41-42, 1 push. Over/under: 35-49
Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 4-6
CELTICS
Season record: 62-21. vs. spread: 40-43. Over/under: 37-45, 1 push
Last 10 games: 8-2. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 4-6
TEAM STATISTICS (2023-24 season)
Points per game: Orlando 110.5, Boston 120.6
Points allowed per game: Orlando 108.4, Boston 109.2
Field goal percentage: Orlando .476, Boston .487
Opponent field goal percentage: Orlando .474, Boston .453
3-point percentage: Orlando .352, Boston .388
Opponent 3-point percentage: Orlando .358, Boston .352
Stat of the day: Three Magic starters — Cory Joseph, Wendell Carter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — combined for 10 points in Game 1.
Notes: Tatum said his wrist X-ray came back negative, and he was feeling better after the game. “I just landed on it,” he said. “It was throbbing for a second, then kind of went away.” … Boston trailed 49-48 at halftime of Game 1, but outscored Orlando 30-18 in the third and 25-19 in the fourth. “Looking back at it, that momentum shift in the third quarter was big,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Us being deliberate and intentional in some of our defensive communication pieces … [we] had a couple mishaps. That’s what got to their spark.” … Following Game 2, the best-of-seven series will shift to Orlando for Game 3 (Friday) and Game 4 (Sunday).
Amin Touri can be reached at [email protected].
