Celtics Handle Orlando for Second Win of Weekend
BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Jaylen Brown heated up late to polish off a 31-point performance as the Boston Celtics continued to inch toward history with a 114-97 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Sunday. Boston has won its first 14 home games of the season, becoming just the second team in franchise history to accomplish the feat. The 1957-58 Celtics got off to the best start in front of a home crowd, going 18-0.
Brown scored 17 of his points in the fourth quarter and went 12-for-20 from the field for the game.
Jayson Tatum added 23 points and eight rebounds for Boston, which also got 15 points and 10 boards from Kristaps Porzingis.
Paolo Banchero poured in a game-high 36 points to go along with 10 rebounds as Orlando fell to the Celtics for the second time in three days. Boston beat the Magic 128-111 on Friday.
Jalen Suggs (13 points) was the only other player to score in double figures for the visitors, who made just 38.2 percent of their shots.
Orlando managed to cut an 11-point halftime deficit to 69-65 when Banchero split a pair of free throws with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Porzingis helped Boston maintain control, though, throwing home a putback dunk and converting the ensuing foul shot for a three-point play. Tatum was later fouled while attempting a trey, and he too cashed in at the charity stripe, making all three free throws for a 75-65 Celtics lead with 3:11 to go.
Boston took an 83-74 advantage into the fourth.
Brown then took over, scoring 15 points in the first 5:45 of the final period to make it 103-86. The Magic never threatened the rest of the way, with Boston leading by as many as 23.
After being held to 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting during Friday’s loss, Banchero came roaring out of the gate on Sunday, scoring 19 points to lift the Magic to a 31-27 edge after 12 minutes of action.
But Boston came to life just past the midway point of the second quarter, and after Brown scored nine points during a 20-5 run, the hosts found themselves up 61-46 with 51.8 seconds left in the frame.
The Celtics settled for a 61-50 lead at the break.
–Field Level Media