Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a commanding 121-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night, scoring 30 points to snap the team’s recent offensive struggles. The Celtics, now 29-12, rediscovered their rhythm with a dominant performance on their home floor.
Tatum, a former Duke standout, shot 12-of-21 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. With freshman star Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils in attendance ahead of their game at Boston College, Tatum showcased the offensive prowess that made him one of the NBA’s elite scorers.
Boston set the tone early, shooting a season-best 61% in the first half, and entered the break with a 12-point lead. The team finished the game shooting 53% from the field, including 46% from deep, and led by as many as 27 points in the second half.
Kristaps Porzingis contributed 23 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers. Jaylen Brown added 20 points and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, helping the Celtics maintain their momentum throughout the game.
For the Magic, Cole Anthony led the way with 23 points, while Paolo Banchero added 21 despite being shaken up after an inadvertent hit to the face by Porzingis. The Magic, now 23-20, struggled to find their shooting touch, hitting just 15.6% of their three-point attempts.
The Celtics finished the night 17-of-37 from long range, a marked improvement that kept the Magic defense on its heels.
Boston also controlled the game defensively, limiting Orlando to 41.5% shooting from the field. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday anchored the perimeter, combining for 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Porzingis and Al Horford provided rim protection inside.
Orlando’s bench struggled to make an impact, with Anthony Black’s 13 points marking the only significant contribution. The Magic were without key players Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs due to injuries, leaving them shorthanded against one of the NBA’s best teams.