The Boston Celtics dropped a bruising 95-93 battle to the Orlando Magic on Friday night, with Jaylen Brown voicing frustration over the escalating physicality in their first-round series.
Following a night where he dislocated his left index finger after a flagrant foul by Cole Anthony, Brown expressed concerns about the officiating, stating, “It might be a fight that breaks out.”
The Celtics, who finished the regular season with the second-fewest turnovers, coughed up the ball 21 times, leading to 26 Magic points and severely hampering their offensive flow.
Despite Jayson Tatum’s return and his 36-point performance, Boston struggled with long scoring droughts, missing 17 of their final 19 three-point attempts and going over 17 minutes without a made triple in the second half.
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combined for 61 points, leading a crucial 14-0 Orlando run in the third quarter that shifted momentum after Boston had built an 11-point lead.
Brown, who logged heavy minutes despite being back on the injury report, said he is taking the playoffs “one day at a time” and emphasized the importance of “responding with force” heading into Game 4.
He criticized the inconsistent whistle, pointing out that physical plays were allowed defensively but called offensively against the Celtics, fueling his frustration during key stretches.
Boston entered the night with a 33-8 regular season road record but has now lost all three of its games in Orlando this season, underscoring the challenge of playing at the Kia Center.
The Celtics were also without Jrue Holiday, sidelined by a hamstring injury, forcing further adjustments against an aggressive Magic squad that won the rebounding battle 42-39.
While acknowledging Orlando’s strong effort, Brown made it clear that Boston intends to “meet the level” of physical play moving forward without losing sight of its own basketball principles.
The Magic will host Game 4 on Sunday, aiming to tie the series at two games apiece and extend pressure on the defending champions.
