Magic reverse roles on visiting Celtics for 123-110 victory

Magic Reverse Roles on Visiting Celtics for 123-110 Victory

Franz Wagner scored 27 points, leading seven Magic players who reached double figures in a strong team effort, while the Celtics struggled down the final stretch in Orlando.

Background and Recent Changes

Last spring, the Celtics and Magic faced off in a tough first-round playoff series marked by Orlando’s physical play, which Boston frequently noted as challenging. Although Boston won the series in five games, that battle seemed to take a toll, as the Celtics then lost to the Knicks in the following round.

Since then, both teams have adjusted. The Magic added Desmond Bane to address offensive issues, while the Celtics now sometimes embrace a scrappy underdog style.

NBA Cup Game Recap

The teams met again Friday night in an NBA Cup game. The Magic produced an unusually impressive shooting performance, which the Celtics couldn’t overcome. Despite Boston recovering from an early 16-point deficit and briefly taking the lead early in the fourth quarter, they faded and ultimately lost 123-110.

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 32 points and nine rebounds.
Payton Pritchard contributed 27 points for Boston.
Franz Wagner’s 27 points helped the Magic, who shot a season-best 17 of 36 from three-point range.
The Magic dominated the fourth quarter with a 39-point effort.

“I didn’t feel like we got out-physicaled,” said Payton Pritchard.

Author’s summary: The Magic outperformed the Celtics with sharp shooting and teamwork, turning the tables on their rivals in a 123-110 win.

The Boston Globe — 2025-11-08