Celtics Eliminate Magic; Await Next Opponent in NBA Playoffs

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Celtics secured their spot in the next round of the NBA playoffs Tuesday night by defeating the Orlando Magic 4-1 in their first-round series. The Celtics clinched the victory with a 31-point blowout win after Paolo Banchero of the Magic picked up his fifth foul. The Celtics will next travel to Detroit for Game 6 against the Pistons on Thursday night.

With the Knicks facing the Pistons in a tightly contested series, Celtics guard Jaylen Brown expressed optimism about the coming games. ‘I’m going to take advantage of that and be ready to go for whoever is next,’ he said.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla shared his thoughts on the potential matchup, emphasizing areas the team needs to improve. ‘[Win] the margins,’ Mazzulla said. He highlighted the importance of defending without fouling and protecting the ball as key factors for the next round.

In the ongoing Knicks-Pistons series, Jalen Brunson, the Knicks guard, has stood out, averaging 5.6 points in clutch situations. Al Horford commented on the Knicks, stating, ‘They present a lot of problems,’ focusing on Brunson’s leadership and talent.

The Celtics previously swept the Knicks during the regular season, including a close overtime victory at Madison Square Garden. In contrast, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham had a breakout season, averaging 25.4 points per game. Horford praised Cunningham’s exceptional performance: ‘Cunningham has been having an unbelievable year.’

Both the Celtics and the Knicks struggled with their three-point shooting efficiency in the playoffs, but the Celtics still managed to draw more fouls. Jayson Tatum, the Celtics star, excelled at the free-throw line, making 37 consecutive free throws over the last three games.

As the playoffs progress, Boston now prepares for a possible showdown against the Knicks or Pistons. Tatum noted their adaptability, saying, ‘We can win a quarter, a game, a series in different ways, and we showed that this series.’