Jayson Tatum, Celtics too sharp for Magic in Game 4 win

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Jayson Tatum posts a double-double to power the Celtics to a commanding 3-1 lead over the Magic as Boston inches closer to the Eastern Conference semifinals

Jayson Tatum collected game highs of 37 points and 14 rebounds to lead the visiting Boston Celtics to a 107-98 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday, April 27 (Monday, April 28, Manila time).

The second-seeded Celtics made 30 of their 32 free throw attempts as they took a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven series.

“All their guys are really hard to guard,” said Orlando’s Franz Wagner, who finished with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. “We just have to be better (on defense).”

Orlando tied the game at 91 on Wendell Carter Jr.’s putback with 4:18 to play, but Boston seized control by scoring 10 of the next 11 points.

“We defended without fouling and we limited them to one shot — then there was some great shot-making at the other end,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said of the late-game success.

Four of Boston’s five starters scored at least 18 points. Jaylen Brown had 21 points and 11 rebounds, Kristaps Porzingis tossed in 19 points, and Derrick White finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Paolo Banchero led seventh-seeded Orlando with 31 points. Carter supplied 9 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Cory Joseph added 12 points and Anthony Black had 10 for the Magic.

“I feel like we still haven’t played our best basketball,” Wagner said. “We’ll be better in Game 5, and we’ll make sure we have the right mentality.”

Boston’s Jrue Holiday missed his second straight game in the series with a right hamstring strain. Boston’s reserves were limited to 6 points, all from Sam Hauser.

The Celtics were 9 of 31 (29%) on three-point attempts, while Orlando was 8 of 30 (26.7%).

Boston led 32-29 after one quarter and stretched its lead to 9 points, 42-33, with 7:46 left in the second quarter. Orlando went in front 48-46 on a layup by Banchero with 3:17 remaining in the first half. The Celtics finished the quarter on a 7-0 run and had a 53-48 halftime lead.

The Celtics kept their poise, Banchero said.

“Their experience showed. They weren’t rattled at all. They were really sharp, I would say, in those final four minutes. Gotta play a full 48 minutes to win a basketball game,” he said.

Orlando edged Boston 27-26 in the third quarter, which left Boston with a 79-75 advantage entering the final 12 minutes. Brown scored 11 points in the third.

The Celtics can advance if they win Game 5 on Tuesday night in Boston. – Rappler.com