Boston, MA – April 29, 2025
The Boston Celtics made a loud statement on Tuesday night, dismantling the Orlando Magic 120–89 in Game 5 to win their first-round playoff series 4–1. With this dominant performance, the Celtics move on to the Eastern Conference semifinals and reaffirm their status as top title contenders.
After a competitive first half that ended in a 53–53 tie, Boston erupted in the third quarter with a 24–4 run. The surge was triggered after Orlando’s Paolo Banchero picked up his fifth foul early in the second half, forcing him to the bench and leaving the Magic vulnerable. From that point on, it was all Celtics.
Jayson Tatum led the charge with a near triple-double performance—dropping 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jaylen Brown followed up with 23 points of his own, while the Celtics defense clamped down on Orlando, holding them to just 37.5% shooting from the field and a dismal 21.1% from beyond the arc.
Boston started the game ice-cold from three-point range, missing every attempt in the first half, but turned it around dramatically, finishing 13-of-24 from downtown in the second half alone.
“We stayed calm, trusted our defense, and then the shots started falling,” said Tatum postgame. “This is the energy we need moving forward.”
Despite missing veteran guard Jrue Holiday for the third straight game due to a hamstring injury, the Celtics’ depth and defensive pressure overwhelmed Orlando. The Magic, though resilient throughout the series, couldn’t match Boston’s intensity or execution.
With the series win, Boston now awaits the winner of the New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons matchup, where the Knicks currently hold a 3–2 lead.
“We’re not done,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla. “We have bigger goals, and this is just the beginning.”
If the Celtics continue to play with this level of dominance, a return to the NBA Finals could be well within reach.
