Celtics, Magic Set for Critical Matchup Amid Playoff Stakes

ORLANDO, Fla. — As the NBA season approaches its climax, a pivotal game is set for Wednesday night when the Boston Celtics clash with the Orlando Magic. The Celtics (59-20), fresh off an overtime victory against the New York Knicks, are locked into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. In contrast, the Magic (39-40) have clinched their spot in the Play-In Tournament as the current No. 7 seed.

This matchup is particularly important for the Magic, who can solidify their playoff positioning with a win. The Celtics have been dominant on the road this season, boasting a league-best 33-7 record away from home, but they are poised to rest key players given their secure playoff position.

The Celtics lead the league in 3-pointers, averaging 48.3 attempts per game and making 37.0% of them. They’ve won 27 of their last 32 games through prolific shooting, with 17.9 successful 3-pointers per contest. Conversely, Orlando struggles with long-range shooting, ranking last in 3-point makes at just 11.1 per game and shooting only 31.5% from beyond the arc. While they’ve shown improvement recently, hitting 35.5% over their past 15 games, the disparity creates a significant challenge.

The Magic have a strategy in mind: to limit 3-point attempts from the Celtics. They currently lead the league, allowing only 31.2 attempts per game, which is crucial for their chance of victory. Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley knows the importance of defensive focus in a matchup against a high-scoring team like Boston.

<p“All season, we’ve emphasized the need to control what we can,” Mosley said. “Limiting their threes will be critical for us.”

The Celtics are battling through a lengthy injury report, with several players nursing minor ailments. Just hours after their late-night arrival in Orlando following their New York game, speculation swirls about the availability of Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White, who logged significant minutes in the overtime win. The Celtics could ease their rotation in this back-to-back situation.

<p“Tonight isn't about the standings; it's about getting healthy for the playoffs,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We’ll see how everyone feels and go from there.”

On the other hand, the Magic are in a different scenario. Their recent 119-112 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks solidified a two-game lead over the eighth-seeded team and placed them on the cusp of clinching the Southeast Division title for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

<p“With three games remaining, winning tonight would really make our lives easier,” said Magic guard Jalen Suggs. “It’s great motivation for all of us.”

Though Orlando has home-court advantage, they are carrying the pressure of needing to secure the win. The Magic have a chance to clinch the 7-seed with a victory, which would render their final two games of the regular season irrelevant in terms of conference standings.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at the Kia Center in Orlando, where the Magic have been solid this season, boasting a 21-19 record at home. Oddsmakers have set the Magic as 7.5-point favorites, reflecting their competitive momentum despite past struggles against the Celtics.

The stakes are high for both teams as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. Boston is focused on refining their strategy for the playoffs. In contrast, Orlando aims to capitalize on every opportunity to solidify their playoff hopes. No matter the lineup, both teams will need to deliver their best shapes for a chance at postseason success.