Orlando Magic Swings & Misses Again vs. Boston Celtics Despite Paolo Banchero's Big Game

Paolo Banchero scored 36 points for the Orlando Magic in a loss against the Boston Celtics.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 17, 2023

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ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic remains in the loss column following a 114-97 defeat against the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.

It's the second straight loss for the Magic against the Celtics, who fall to 16-9 on the season.

Orlando was within six points in the fourth quarter, but then Boston went on a 20-3 run in the middle of the final frame to put the game out of reach.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero was fantastic for the Magic, scoring a game-high 36 points on 14 of 30 shooting. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to record a double-double.

Dec 17, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dribbles the ball while Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) defends during the first half at TD Garden / Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics had Jaylen Brown atop the box score in the points department with 31, while his teammate Jayson Tatum added 23. Kristaps Porzingis, who missed Friday's game with a calf injury, recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in his return.

Magic Has Had 'Great Back and Forth' With Celtics, Says Cole Anthony

The Magic came into the weekend looking to challenge the Celtics and be the first team to beat them on their home floor this season. However, Orlando failed to get the job done and now has been knocked down a few pegs. Boston has the best record in the NBA at 20-5, but Orlando cannot and should not be satisfied. The team now has to return home, regroup and find ways to get closer to where it wants to be.

The Magic will get a few days off before returning home to face the in-state rival Miami Heat. Tipoff is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

Published Dec 17, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.