By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Sat, 17 Dec 2022
The Wagner brothers prove that sibling rivalry is a positive thing. What could be better than 2 Davids, brothers on the same team, taking down Goliath on the road?
Against the best team in the league on their home court, Moritz Wagner scored a season high 25 points (8 boards, 1 dish) while his younger sibling Franz posted 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists— enough to power the Magic past the Celtics at TD Garden, 117-109, Friday night.
Orlando’s first overall draft pick rookie Paolo Banchero added 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, as he notched his eighteenth 20-plus-point-game in his young career. Banchero showed his potential dominating in the paint, getting fouled and sinking 7-of-8 free throws, as well as beyond the arc making 3-of-6 treys.
Orlando pressed Boston all night, leading 62-54 at halftime and extending the lead to 19 points early in the third quarter.
As a team, the Magic shot 42-of-91 baskets (46.2% FG) and a measly 9-of-33 treys (27.3% 3-PT), outrebounded the Celtics, 53-38, and led for the final 37 minutes of the game.
By contrast, the Celtics, who were either fatigued or just out-of-sync, sank 35-of-84 baskets (41.7% FG) and an uncharacteristic 11-of-46 treys (23.9% 3-PT).
Entering tonight’s game, the Celtics were (and still are) the leaders in points per game and 3-points made.
However, it was Boston’s defense tonight, #8 in the NBA, that faltered against the 9-20 Orlando team as they suffered their third loss in the last 4 games.
Jayson Tatum registered a game-high 31 points, 20 in the first half and cooled off in the last 2 quarters. Jaylen Brown scored 26 points but made seven turnovers. Brogdon added a workmanlike 15, but Al Holford was anemic with 3 points.
The Celtics shaved the lead to single digits sporadically, but the Magic easily stayed ahead.
Orlando was coming off a solid 4-1 home stand, and stretched their win streak to five, improving to 19-20 at the expense of the first-place Boston team that just ended a grueling road trip.
Upcoming:
Rematch: Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics, TD Gardens, on Sunday
Note of Appreciation:
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