The Orlando Magic (19-12) notched their second-straight victory with a 15+ point comeback victory against the Boston Celtics (22-7) by a score of 108-104 on Monday night at the Kia Center. The Magic are 11-2 at home this season.
“Coach Mosley says, ‘we have enough’ even with Paolo, Franz, and Gary out, and now Moe out,” Magic rookie Tristan De Silva said. “Everybody is capable and stepping into their role. That’s the personality that we got on the team.”
The night for the Magic started rough, having six turnovers in the first quarter alone, ending with nine in the first half. This allowed Boston to gain a 15 point lead at the half, having 14 points off of turnovers.
“When you walk in at halftime and show some of the turnovers we had, you realize it’s the silly ones that are giving them opportunities,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “The game plan is working if you take care of the basketball.”
Orlando’s plan worked in the second half, as they were able to outscore the Celtics 36-21 in the third quarter, with former G League MVP Trevelin Queen leading the way with 10 points in his 10 minutes. Queen was making his first ever NBA start and took advantage of the opportunity.
“He’s not afraid of big moments and to take on challenges,” Mosley said. “I thought he did an amazing job guarding tonight and taking big shots. That’s who he is.”
The Magic continued their comeback with another solid outing from veteran guard Cole Anthony, with his playmaking leading to four threes in the first eight minutes of the fourth. This, coupled with their perimeter defense, led to a 10 point lead with four minutes left in the contest.
“That’s our identity,” De Silva said. “We pride ourselves on getting stops, making the game physical. Everybody has the confidence that they can guard everybody on the floor.”
This momentum seemingly came to a halt, when at the 3:36 mark, Boston big Kristaps Porzingis and Magic players Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze had a heated exchange. This led to the ejection of Bitadze and an 11-2 run from Boston, shaving it down to a one point lead.
“It’s a fighting group, it’s a gritty group, it’s a confident group, it’s a group that believes in themselves,” Mosley said.
“Nobody had any doubt,” Suggs said. “Not an ounce of doubt that we were out of it.”
With just 10 seconds left in the game, the Magic needed a play, and they went to the rookie De Silva. He hit a game-sealing three pointer in the corner to cement another key victory for this young team.
“That’s what you dream of,” De Silva said. “(Queen) driving to the lane and kicking it out to me, I was open so I just let it rip.”
Both the Celtics and Magic shot 44.6% from the field, but Orlando’s 39.4% from three outdid the NBA’s best three point shooting Boston’s 25%, with them hitting less than 10 threes for only the second time in 128 games.
“We came in at halftime and it was them following the game plan,” Mosley said. “If we follow the game plan, you give yourself a chance every single night defensively.”
This game was the first without veteran big Moe Wagner, who the team announced tore his ACL in the previous game against the Heat. This marks the fourth major injury to an Orlando player this season, joining Paolo Banchero, Gary Harris, and his brother Franz Wagner. Despite being shorthanded, the Magic have maintained the fourth best record in the East.
“This one was for Moe Wagner,” Anthony said. “Every single one of them is for Moe.”
Next Up
After their two day break for the holidays, the Magic are back in the Kia Center on Thursday to take on the Miami Heat. The Heat, who blew a 25 point lead last week in Orlando, look to get their revenge on a Magic squad that is persevering through their injuries. Tip-off against the Heat is at 7:00 PM on Dec. 26.