Live Updates: Celtics Travel to Magic Looking to Stay Unbeaten in NBA Cup
The Boston Celtics faced the Orlando Magic on Friday night, aiming to remain undefeated in the 2025 NBA Cup group stage. However, despite efforts from Jaylen Brown and Anfernee Simons in the second half, the Magic secured a 123-110 win at the KIA Center.
This marked Boston's first loss in Group B of the 2025 NBA Cup. The Celtics now hold a 1-1 record in the in-season tournament, with upcoming games against the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets later this month.
Key Performances
- Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 32 points, scoring 18 in the second half on 15-for-28 shooting.
- Anfernee Simons contributed all 11 of his points during the fourth quarter, shooting 4-for-8.
Game Flow
Orlando jumped out to a strong start, building a 16-point lead midway through the first quarter. The Magic shot 49% from the field and 50% from three-point range (9-for-18) in the first half.
Boston chipped away at the deficit behind Brown and a tighter defense in the third quarter. Derrick White's fourth-quarter basket gave the Celtics their first lead since early in the game. However, the Magic responded with a commanding 28-14 run in the final six minutes to seal the victory.
"Orlando built a 16-point lead midway through the first quarter after a scorching-hot start on the offensive end."
"A fourth-quarter bucket by Derrick White gave Boston its first lead since the four-minute mark of the first quarter."
For a full overview, the Celtics-Magic recap offers detailed insights into the matchup.
Author's summary: The Celtics suffered their first NBA Cup loss to the Magic after a strong comeback fell short in the final minutes of an intense group stage battle.