BOSTON (AP) — In a thrilling opener of their first-round playoff series, the Boston Celtics secured a commanding 103-86 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Derrick White was the star of the night, scoring 30 points and leading the Celtics to a strong start in the postseason. Jayson Tatum also made headlines, contributing 17 points and 14 rebounds, despite a concerning fall late in the game.
The TD Garden crowd held its breath when Tatum, who has battled wrist issues in the past, took a hard fall after being fouled by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while attempting a dunk. The foul was reviewed and upgraded to a flagrant foul, but Tatum managed to stay in the game after being briefly attended to on the court. "He’s good," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed postgame, easing concerns about Tatum's health.
Payton Pritchard added a significant boost off the bench with 19 points, while Jaylen Brown, returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for the last three games of the regular season, chipped in with 16 points. Brown played 31 minutes and showed no signs of discomfort, contributing effectively on both ends of the court.
The Celtics initially struggled to find their rhythm, trailing at halftime 52-51. The Magic, led by Paolo Banchero's impressive 36-point performance, capitalized on Boston's early mistakes and limited their three-point shooting to just 7 of 15 in the first half. However, the tide turned in the second half as the Celtics tightened their defense and capitalized on Orlando's turnovers.
Orlando's inability to hold onto the ball proved costly, as they committed 15 turnovers throughout the game, leading to 24 points for Boston. The Magic turned the ball over six times in the third quarter alone, allowing the Celtics to outscore them 30-18 and take a 78-65 lead into the fourth quarter.
As the final quarter unfolded, the Celtics extended their lead to as much as 19 points. Tatum, despite his earlier scare, managed to hit a key three-pointer and showcased his versatility with a reverse layup and a fadeaway jumper. He finished the game with a stat line of 17 points on 8-of-22 shooting, along with 14 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
In the aftermath of the game, Tatum expressed relief after receiving an X-ray on his wrist, stating, "It’s clean, I’m good." His performance and durability will be crucial as the series progresses, especially given the Celtics' aspirations of advancing deep into the playoffs.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will host Game 2 on Wednesday night, April 23, 2025, at TD Garden, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston. The Celtics will aim to build on their momentum and take a commanding 2-0 series lead against an Orlando team that has not advanced past the first round since the 2009-10 season.
As the playoff intensity ramps up, the Celtics will need to maintain their focus and capitalize on their home-court advantage. With Tatum’s health a central concern, fans will be eagerly watching how he responds in the coming days. Will the Celtics continue their dominance, or will the Magic find a way to bounce back in Game 2? The stage is set for what promises to be an exciting continuation of this playoff series.
