Tougher, more poised Celtics push Magic to brink of knockout

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, looks for a way to the basket against Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) during the first half in game 3 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series,, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) AP

Anybody hoping for a fight was disappointed.

Anybody hoping the Celtics would show fight was more than satisfied.

After Boston’s frustrating Game 3 loss, Jaylen Brown suggested that Magic’s growing number of flagrant fouls and cheap shots might lead to a Game 4 fight. The possibility that the already tense series might teeter over the edge probably brought some extra ratings to the TNT broadcast.

But it didn’t happen.

Not for lack of trying by the Magic. They did try to sucker Boston into exactly that sort of trouble. It wouldn’t have been surprising if there had been an altercation following Wendell Carter’s hip-check on Derrick White. And nobody would have been shocked if shoving ensued after Anthony Black appeared to target Jayson Tatum’s injured wrist with a hard foul with 8:03 left.

Instead, Tatum stepped between his angrier teammates and the Magic players after White went down. And following Black’s foul, he sat on the floor and laughed before getting up and making both free throws.

“This is my eighth year in the playoffs. I’ve played 115 playoff games. I’ve been here before,” Tatum said. “I’ve been in these moments. Just stay composed. Don’t get distracted by outside things. Stay level-headed and do what you can to help your team get a win.”

The Celtics kept their discipline and their poise. They matched the Magic’s physicality while at the same time pushing through it.

Tatum will never have the outward fierceness that would shield him from questions about his toughness. His quiet and thoughtful demeanor are misleading. But Sunday was a good display of what’s flowing underneath the surface.

After sitting out Game 2, he has not only played through the “serious bone bruise” on his shooting wrist but put that wrist in harm’s way as he repeatedly drove into traffic.

Tatum scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter and nine of those in Boston’s 16-7 game-closing run after Orlando tied the game, 91-91 with 4:18 left.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, center, drives between Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) and center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)AP

“It’s poise and having an understanding of your environment,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Those were physical drives getting to the free-throw line. Both teams were playing physical. You have to be able to execute at both ends of the floor. I thought he did a great job of that.”

Tatum sought contact. He knew Orlando would be physical and he turned that into free throws. He made nine of nine in the fourth quarter and all 14 he took in the game. He played a game-high 42:11 and didn’t leave the floor in the second half.

“I know what I’m dealing with. My whole team knows,” Tatum said. “It’s that time of the year.”

In the moment, Brown’s comments about fighting and the officials “not controlling the environment” after Game 3 felt like legit off-the-cuff frustration. But if his goal, primary or secondary, was planting a seed in the heads of the officials, it worked.

The Celtics made 30 of 32 free throws as a team after attempting just 22 in Game 3. Boston took more free throws and didn’t give away as many possessions.

In Game 3, the Magic turned 15 offensive rebounds and 20 Celtics turnovers into 42 points. Boston shrank that number to 22 points on 10 turnovers and seven offensive rebounds allowed. The Celtics committed zero fourth-quarter turnovers as they sealed the win late.

”They want to speed you up," said Jaylen Brown, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds. “They want you to take ill-advised shots and they try to bait you into that. You’ve got to be patient.

“This was a big win,” he continued. “A big win on the road in a tough environment against a team that’s been eager to take us out.”

Now they have a chance to take Orlando all the way out on Tuesday, back in Boston. The Celtics didn’t throw a punch, but are now a win away from completing the knockout.

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