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

The season series between the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics is tied at one game apiece, so their matchup today will be the tiebreaker and will decide who takes the season series.

The Orlando Magic took a pretty tough loss in its last game against the Boston Celtics, but the team will have a chance to come right back and respond in the rematch later today.

Despite losing by 17 points in yesterday's game, the Magic have also beat the Celtics in commanding fashion before too. In the first game between the two teams earlier in the year, the Magic ended up winning by the same margin, 17 points. Now, the season series is tied at one game apiece, and today's game will decide the winner.

While taking the season series against an opponent doesn't have any major impact, it can give the team that takes the series some confidence if they run into that team in the postseason. Magic guard Cole Anthony talked about the impact that taking the season series would have in a recent interview. 

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) drives past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) in the team's win over the Celtics earlier this season / Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

"I don't like teams feeling like they've got moral victories on us, and for them, if they were to beat us in the season series, that would be like a moral victory," Anthony said. "Just cause it's been a great back and forth, we've had some great games with them over the last couple years. We've gotta take this one seriously... the way they showed us respect yesterday, we have to show them that same respect. Go out there and hoop and give them a ball game."

So far this season, the Celtics have not lost a single game at home, as they are 13-0 at TD Garden. The Magic will be looking to hand them their first loss of the season at home, but it is going to be easier said than done.

"They're obviously a super talented team," Anthony said. "They've got some dogs on that team. We do to, but we've gotta go show that. They're undefeated, so it would be a great honor to go get this win. It would be a personal victory for all of us."

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This game will also have implications for the Eastern Conference Standings, as both teams are near the top of the conference. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. ET from TD Garden.