Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jaylen Brown Generates 31 Points as Pace-Pushing Celtics Complete Two-Game Sweep of Magic
The Boston Celtics improved to 14-0 at TD Garden on Sunday and completed a two-game sweep of their mini-series with the Orlando Magic.
After easing into Sunday's matinee, they relentlessly pushed the pace in the second and fourth quarters, getting back to utilizing the speed advantage that led to their 128-111 win vs. Orlando on Friday. That was a victory Jaylen Brown labeled their "biggest win of the year."
The two-time All-Star was again at the center of Boston's up-tempo attack, generating a team-high 31 points and matching Franz Wagner for a game-high six assists. Plus, he had five rebounds, a steal, and a block.
Jayson Tatum registered 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a block as the C's built on the NBA's best record, improving to 20-5.
Kristaps Porzingis produced 15 points and ten rebounds. Jrue Holiday was excellent, registering 14 points, pushing the pace consistently, grabbing six rebounds, and swatting two shots.
The other half of the stock exchange, Derrick White, also stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with ten points, five rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal.
And while burgeoning star Paolo Banchero manufactured 36 points, the hosts stifled his supporting cast, walling off drives, utilizing their speed to swarm Orlando and protect the perimeter.
It translated to the Magic shooting a frigid 38.2 percent from the field, including 11/36 (30.6 percent) from beyond the arc.
Now for a deep dive into what stood out as the Celtics' 114-97 win unfolded on Sunday.
1. The Celtics were slow out of the gates on Sunday afternoon. Even when they raised their energy, the same wasn't true of their physicality defensively.
Poor closeouts also contributed to Paolo Banchero erupting for 19 points in the first frame. Orlando's burgeoning star also drilled 3/4 attempts from beyond the arc.
2. But while Boston wasn't forceful on defense, the hosts were aggressive on offense, attacking downhill, including off some well-set screens, helping them generate 18 points in the paint.
They also parlayed five offensive rebounds into an 8-0 advantage in second-chance scoring.
Still, their lack of resistance made it too easy for the visitors to get into the paint, leading to quality, in-rhythm shots that translated to a 31-27 edge entering the second quarter.
3. The Celtics got back to utilizing their speed advantage, the key to Friday's win, in the second period. They also raised their physicality defensively.
The combination translated to a 12-4 advantage in points in the paint and outscoring Orlando 9-3 on the fast break.
Pushing the pace also got everyone in rhythm, kept the collective involved in the offense, and created quality shots, often around the basket. It also helped the hosts go 6/10 from beyond the arc in the second frame.
4. Payton Pritchard had an excellent first half and was one of the individuals most responsible for Boston picking up the tempo in the second quarter.
He also defended well on the ball, forced a turnover, grabbed an offensive rebound, and converted it into knocking down a corner three over Magic center Mo Wagner.
5. The C's, who produced 30 points in the paint in the first half, led 61-50 at intermission.
They still struggled to contain Banchero, who paced all participants with 26 points, contorting himself to get around Boston's centers for layups and drilling a baseline fadeaway jumper with Jrue Holiday draped over him.
But they silenced everyone else, walling off drives, flying around the court, and contesting shots, resulting in the visitors only putting 19 points on the board in the second frame. Orlando made only 27.3 percent of its field goal attempts in those 12 minutes, including faring 2/12 (16.7 percent) from three-point range.
Banchero was the only player on the Magic who scored in double-figures at the break. Conversely, Holiday led the hosts with 14 points, and Tatum and Brown each had 11, as the Celtics entered halftime with a 61-50 advantage.
6. Boston got off to a sloppy start in the third quarter, lacking focus and committing three turnovers by the 8:22 mark. That included Kristaps Porzingis giving the ball away when he didn't ensure the person he was handing it to behind him was Jaylen Brown. Instead, it was Anthony Black.
7. The hosts had four giveaways by the 5:56 mark. But to their credit, they committed none after that. Taking better care of the ball and hustle plays like the two below helped them hold an 83-74 lead entering the final 12 minutes.
8. The Celtics delivered a haymaker about midway through the fourth quarter: Jrue Holiday blocked Jonathan Isaac at the basket, Derrick White pushed the pace, pitched an entry feed to Al Horford, and the former Florida Gator quickly kicked the ball out to Brown for a three from the right corner.
After a Banchero miss from beyond the arc, the two-time All-Star elevated off the dribble at the left wing and drilled another long-range attempt. That sparked a roar from Brown and the TD Garden faithful as Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley signaled for a timeout with his team trailing 103-86 with 6:24 left.
9. Jayson Tatum put an exclamation mark on Boston's two-game sweep of its mini-series with the Magic, rejecting Banchero at the rim.
10. After their 114-97 win, the Celtics head to the West Coast for a four-game road trip. That starts Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors. Their matchup will tip off at 10:00 EST.
Further Reading
Celtics Utilize Speed Advantage in Run Away Win vs. Magic: 'It Makes the Game Easier'
Here's What Stood Out as Shorthanded Celtics Throttled Magic to Extend Home Unbeaten Streak
Celtics Evaluate a Key to Mini-Series Sweep of Cavaliers: 'Playing the Right Way'
Jayson Tatum Praises Kristaps Porzingis for Allowing Celtics to Spin the Dial Defensively
Wins on the Margins Help Propel Celtics Past Cavaliers
An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'
Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
