Paolo Banchero pointed to a familiar turning point after the Orlando Magic’s 109-100 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 2: the third quarter.
Boston used a post-halftime surge to seize control at TD Garden and secure a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
“They came out the locker room in the third quarter, went on a run, and we had trouble getting back from that,” Banchero said during his postgame media session.
The Celtics turned up their pace, drained timely three-pointers, and capitalized on Orlando’s defensive lapses to stretch their advantage.
“They pushed the pace, made threes — what they usually do,” Banchero noted when asked about Boston’s repeated scoring bursts.
The Magic allowed 28 points in the final quarter and were outscored in the paint and at the free-throw line, areas that proved decisive in the loss.
Despite Banchero’s 32-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist effort, Orlando could not match the Celtics’ execution in critical stretches.
Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 36 points and added 10 rebounds and five assists, including 17 points in the fourth.
Orlando struggled to contain Brown’s offensive rhythm while also sending Boston to the line 33 times, 25 of which were converted.
“We put them on the line probably more than we would’ve liked to,” Banchero admitted. “There were some questionable calls, but it’s like that sometimes.”
Boston outrebounded Orlando 46-34 and shot 45 percent from the field, including 12-of-29 from deep.
Kristaps Porzingis returned from a head laceration to finish with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Derrick White and Jrue Holiday added 17 and 11 points respectively.
The Magic shot just 24.1 percent from three-point range and failed to generate consistent offense outside of Banchero and Franz Wagner, who scored 25 points.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, playing under increased scrutiny following his Game 1 flagrant foul on Jayson Tatum, finished just 1-of-9 from the field.
When asked how to spark Caldwell-Pope’s production, Banchero said, “Just keep finding him when he’s open. Keep trusting him.”
Despite the two-game deficit, Banchero remained confident in the Magic’s chances as the series shifts to Orlando for Game 3.
“We usually play better in front of our home crowd,” he said. “They did what they’re supposed to do — beat us twice on their home floor. Now we got to go protect ours.”
Orlando will look to continue its undefeated playoff run at home after going 3-0 in last year’s postseason.
But Banchero acknowledged that to advance, winning on the road will eventually be necessary.
“If we want to win the series, we got to get a win on the road,” he said. “Simple as that.”
Game 3 is set for Friday night at Kia Center, where the Magic hope to narrow the gap and reassert themselves in the series.
