Jayson Tatum delivered a standout performance with 37 points and 14 rebounds as the Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 107-98 on Sunday night to move within one win of advancing to the second round.
Jaylen Brown added 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Kristaps Porzingis contributed 19 points despite being limited to 22 minutes because of foul trouble.
Porzingis sparked a critical 18-3 Boston run in the first half with a dunk off his own missed shot and later buried a three-pointer to stretch the lead to nine points.
The Magic, led by Paolo Banchero’s 31 points, kept the contest tight, tying the score at 91 with 4:18 remaining after a dunk from Wendell Carter Jr.
Tatum immediately responded with a 10-foot jumper, then sank three consecutive free throws and a layup to push the Celtics back ahead by seven points. Boston outscored Orlando 16-7 over the final minutes.
Derrick White filled the stat sheet with 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for the Celtics, and Al Horford anchored the defense with five blocked shots.
Franz Wagner posted 24 points and seven assists for Orlando, while Corey Joseph chipped in 12 points, the highest total by a Magic guard in the series.
The Celtics overcame a cold night from deep, hitting just 9-of-31 three-pointers, by dominating inside and converting 30-of-32 free throws.
Orlando struggled similarly from beyond the arc, finishing 8-for-30, and failed to capitalize on Boston’s off-target perimeter shooting.
Boston’s bench, led by Sam Hauser’s two timely three-pointers, provided key minutes as the Celtics maintained control whenever the starters rested.
The Magic missed Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner due to injuries, leaving Banchero and Wagner to carry a heavier load offensively.
Banchero, who shot 12-of-32, reached the 30-point mark for the sixth time in his 11 postseason appearances.
Jrue Holiday remained sidelined for Boston with a strained right hamstring, missing his second consecutive game.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series shifts back to TD Garden on Tuesday night, where the Celtics will look to close out the series in front of their home crowd.
