Celtics blow out Magic in Game 5 to advance in NBA Playoffs
The Boston Celtics are moving on to the second round of the NBA Playoffs after closing out the Orlando Magic with a 120-89 Game 5 win at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
The Magic led by two at halftime, but the Celtics absolutely demolished them in the third quarter, 36-13, to take control of the game. Boston closed the frame on a 22-4 run, and then led by as many as 34 points in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics' 31-point victory is the largest playoff win by a team that trailed at halftime in NBA history.
Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 35 points to go with 10 assists and eight rebounds, and Jaylen Brown had 23 points for the Celtics. Brown scored 15 of his points after halftime.
Orlando gave Boston a heck of a test in the series, despite being sent home in five games. The Magic bullied the Celtics for much of the series and were able to take away the three-point shot (until the second half Tuesday), which forced Boston to win in a different fashion.
But the Celtics were up to the challenge, and now they'll get some rest before the Eastern Conference semifinals. Boston will play either the Knicks or the Pistons, who will play a Game 6 on Thursday night. New York leads the series 3-2, but failed to close out Detroit Tuesday night when the Pistons pulled off a 106-103 win at Madison Square Garden. If that series goes to a Game 7, it will be Saturday night in New York.
No threes in sluggish first half for Celtics
The first half of Game 5 looked nothing like the second. The Magic bullied the Celtics for the first 24 minutes, and Boston turned it over nine times. Even wilder was the fact the Celtics didn't make a single three in the opening half.
Al Horford hit a few long twos, including one with a toe on the line, but Boston went 0-of-6 from downtown in the first half. The Celtics became just the second team all season to go the first half without a three, joining the lowly Dallas Mavericks, who had a three-less first half on April 4.
The last time the Celtics went a half without a three in the playoffs was back in 2012, in a Game 1 loss to the Hawks in Atlanta.
The Celtics didn't hit a three Tuesday night until Tatum splashed one down with at the 10:22 mark in the third quarter. After that, the floodgates opened, and Boston hit eight of its first 11 three-point attempts in the quarter.
After catching fire in the second half, Boston finished 13-of-24 from downtown in Game 5. We'll save you some math: The Celtics connected on 13 of their 18 threes over the final 24 minutes against Orlando.
Celtics third quarter takeover
Despite the poor start and the Magic leading by nine at one point in the first half, the Celtics trailed by just two at the break. Boston got its act together in the third and took full control by outscoring Orlando, 36-13. The Celtics closed the frame on a 22-4 run and led by 24 going into the fourth quarter.
Boston did most of its damage with Orlando star Paolo Banchero on the bench, after he picked up his fifth foul at the 9:46 mark. The Magic led by one when he checked out, and then the Celtics ripped off a 30-9 run.
A Tatum three with 3:39 left in the quarter gave the Celtics a 68-60 lead, and the advantage grew to 10 as the Magic missed 16 straight shots from the floor. Horford got a friendly bounce on a corner three late in the frame to give Boston an 83-62 edge, as the Celtics connected on five of their eight shots from downtown in the third.
The Celtics scored on the final 10 possessions of the quarter and led 83-62 heading into the fourth. Tatum led the way for Boston with 13 points in the frame, while Brown scored nine.
Another big night for Jayson Tatum
Tatum was electric throughout the game, as he hit 10 of his 16 shots from the floor and four of five from downtown. He was once again perfect at the free-throw line, as he connected on all 11 of his freebies.
Tatum has now scored at least 35 points in three straight games, and is the only player in NBA history to score 30 or more points, hit 10 or more free throws, and not miss a free throw in three straight playoff games.
Tatum is just the second Celtics player to score 35-plus in three straight playoff games, along with Larry Bird.
