Jaylen Brown Explains Why Beating Magic was Celtics' 'Biggest Win of the Year'

At last, the Boston Celtics have beaten the Orlando Magic. The win extends their unbeaten streak at TD Garden to 13-0 this season.

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Derrick White, putting together another terrific game for the Boston Celtics, stopped on a dime with two Orlando Magic defenders on him near the baseline. He probed back into the paint and threw it to Jaylen Brown on a cut as he pulled back for a tomahawk on Magic rookie Anthony Black. TD Garden erupted for Brown's third slam of the first half, capping it with a mean stare-down at the camera under the basket.

The Celtics defeated the Magic 128-111 to become 13-0 at home. They've now won four straight contests. And they snapped a four-game skid versus Orlando.

Boston was without Al Horford due to his usual rest on the second half of a back-to-back. Kristaps Porzingis was out because of calf tightness. Luke Kornet and Dalano Banton were also inactive. 

That left the hosts without its top-three centers for the night. Lamar Stevens made the spot-start after leaving a high-energizing imprint in his nine minutes the night prior against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Stevens and Oshae Brissett combined for 19 points, with Brissett putting up 11, including shooting 4-4. He had a quick seven points in his first two minutes, making his presence known. 

Payton Pritchard also broke out with 21 points, five assists, and three rebounds. He shot 7-10 from the field and 6-7 from three.

Knowing the stakes between the East's top seeds, the recent history between the Celtics and Magic, and how Boston got it done shorthanded, Brown labeled Friday night victory as his team's best win yet.

WARNING: The link to the following video contains the use of profanity.

"I think this was the biggest game of the year so far," the two-time All-Star said postgame. "In my opinion, for us, one, we had a bunch of guys out on a back-to-back versus a team that's been kicking our [expletive] the last four-five times we played. So, I think this was the biggest game to me so far."

Brown acknowledged how Orlando came out firing to start the game with a 6-0 early lead on some tough shots from Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner.

"I think we came out, even though they came out swinging; like, the first they took was a three. Suggs hit it on the left wing; it was tough, it was well-defended, but he made it. That can kind of be discouraging at times, so it's like, 'ah, it's gonna be a long night.' But nah, we took those punches and kept throwing punches back. And that's what we want to instill in our guys. We fight, we make it hard for you, and we play the game the right way."

The Celtics, in pursuit of their fifth consecutive win, will now look to improve to 14-0 at home and complete a two-game sweep of the Magic on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. EST.

Further Reading

Celtics Utilize Speed Advantage in Run Away Win vs. Magic: 'It Makes the Game Easier'

Here's What Stood Out as Shorthanded Celtics Throttled Magic to Extend Home Unbeaten Streak

Celtics Evaluate a Key to Mini-Series Sweep of Cavaliers: 'Playing the Right Way'

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Completed Sweep of Two-Game Series vs. Cavaliers

Celtics Reportedly Agree to Two-Way Deal with Drew Peterson

Derrick White Praises Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's Impact That 'Doesn't Show Up on the Stat Sheet'

Jayson Tatum Praises Kristaps Porzingis for Allowing Celtics to Spin the Dial Defensively

Wins on the Margins Help Propel Celtics Past Cavaliers

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis Discuss Their Quickly Cultivated Chemistry: 'An Automatic Connection'

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present