BOSTON, MA — Jaylen Brown poured in 35 points and Josh Minott delivered 16, including 12 during a blistering second quarter in which Boston shot 81.8%, as the Celtics held off the depleted Orlando Magic 138–129 on Sunday night.
Anfernee Simons added 23 points, while Payton Pritchard contributed 19 points and eight assists for Boston, which bounced back from a frustrating home defeat to Brooklyn two nights earlier. Brown also handed out eight assists in the win.
Boston built a 26-point cushion in the third quarter but nearly let it disappear. After Orlando surged late and trimmed the gap to six in the final minute, Brown steadied the Celtics by scoring 12 consecutive points.
Jett Howard led the Magic with a season-best 30 points. Orlando, missing three of its top five scorers, saw its three-game winning streak halted. Desmond Bane added 18 points and Franz Wagner chipped in 15.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley returned to the sidelines after falling ill during the second half of Saturday’s win over the New York Knicks.
The Celtics seized control in the second quarter, hitting 18 of 22 attempts and stretching a five-point advantage after the first period into an 80–57 halftime lead. Minott didn’t miss in the quarter, going 5-for-5 and knocking down a pair of threes.
Pritchard sparked a 10–3 run with a steal and layup, then drained a corner three 11 seconds later to push Boston ahead 66–49. He capped the explosive 48-point quarter with a pull-up jumper just before the halftime buzzer.
Fresh off their win over New York, the Magic came out noticeably flat. Their streak of eight straight quarters scoring at least 30 points—tied for a franchise best—ended in the opening frame, when they managed only 27.
Up Next
Magic: Visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, the second stop in a three-game road swing.
Celtics: Return home to face the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
