Orlando, FL — The word “resilient” doesn’t even begin to describe the Orlando Magic’s gutsy performance Thursday night. Feeding off an electric home crowd at Kia Center, the Magic fought back from multiple double-digit deficits to defeat the Boston Celtics 95-93, trimming Boston’s series lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
After back-to-back tough outings in Boston, the Magic returned home desperate for a spark — and their fans delivered.
“We talked about being at home. We talked about their (the fans’) support. We talked about how loud this building was, the energy that we had to have,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “When we went on that 16-3 run to start the third quarter, it was the fans that propelled us.”
The night started rocky. Orlando grabbed an early lead, but Boston quickly found its rhythm, building a 17-9 advantage midway through the first quarter. With only Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero putting points on the board early, Mosley called a timeout to steady his group.
The Magic responded with gritty defense and timely offense. Jonathan Isaac’s steal, Cole Anthony’s tough layup, and a clutch three-pointer from Banchero knotted the game late in the first. Anthony and rookie Anthony Black finally got involved offensively, helping Orlando close the quarter strong and take a 31-27 lead.
The second quarter saw the Celtics strike back. Jayson Tatum, returning from a wrist injury that sidelined him for Game 2, put on a show, pouring in 21 first-half points. Boston closed the half on a run, leading 59-49 at the break. Orlando’s offensive production was still heavily reliant on Wagner and Banchero, who combined for 30 of the Magic’s first-half points.
Facing a ten-point deficit, the Magic flipped the script in the third quarter. Turning defense into offense, Orlando forced missed shots and turnovers to spark a 16-3 run, eventually grabbing a 65-62 lead. Boston, rattled by Orlando’s relentless energy, managed just 11 points in the quarter — their lowest-scoring quarter of the season.
Heading into the fourth, Orlando clung to a narrow 73-70 advantage.
The Magic extended their lead to as much as nine early in the final quarter, but the veteran Celtics clawed back, using favorable mismatches to chip away. Yet every time Boston threatened, Orlando answered.
Franz Wagner played hero down the stretch, attacking the slower Kristaps Porzingis on switches to score critical back-to-back baskets, including the go-ahead bucket with just over two minutes left.
Wagner finished with 32 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in a masterful performance. Paolo Banchero wasn’t far behind, dropping 29 points along with six rebounds and two steals. The duo joined Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway as the only Magic teammates to each score at least 20 points in three or more games of a playoff series.
Wendell Carter Jr. added a crucial double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the paint defensively and helping the Magic win the rebounding battle in key moments.
Boston, despite Tatum’s 36 points and strong support from Jaylen Brown (19 points) and Derrick White (16 points), was undone by sloppy play, committing 21 turnovers that led to 26 Magic points. The Celtics also struggled from deep, managing only 27 three-point attempts — a credit to Orlando’s relentless perimeter defense.
The win marked Orlando’s fourth consecutive playoff victory at home, a testament to both the team’s growth and the city’s raucous support.
“I’m definitely proud of the team,” Banchero said afterward. “We knew coming back down 2-0, we were going to have to do whatever we could to get this game and give ourselves a chance to tie it up 2-2. We didn’t let their runs affect us. We just kept playing and got the win.”
The Magic now look to even the series in Game 4, set for Sunday night at Kia Center at 7 p.m.
