Celtics Face Magic in NBA Cup Showdown Friday Night

Orlando, FL — The Boston Celtics will kick off a three-game road trip on Friday night as they face the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center. The contest, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EST, marks the first of two consecutive games between the teams, with another meeting set for Sunday.

This game is particularly significant as it is part of the NBA Cup Group B. The Celtics are coming off a commanding 136-107 victory over Washington on Wednesday, although they have lost two of their last three games. The Magic, on the other hand, are struggling and have experienced five losses in their last seven outings, including a recent defeat to Atlanta.

Xavier Tillman will be absent for the Celtics due to personal reasons. The Magic will also miss Moritz Wagner, who is out with a knee injury. Despite these setbacks, both teams are looking to regain momentum.

In their last game, Boston’s Jaylen Brown emerged as a key player, scoring 35 points against Washington, demonstrating his ability to lead the team effectively. He has now reached the 30-point mark in five games this season. Meanwhile, Josh Minott contributed a career-high 21 points in the same game.

As for the Magic, Paolo Banchero had a solid performance with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists against Atlanta. However, the team struggled with turnovers, registering 17 during that matchup.

Boston holds a season record of 4-5 and is 3-6 against the spread, whereas Orlando stands at 3-5 overall and 2-6 against the spread.

Fans can catch the action on NBCSB and WBZ-FM 98.5.