Celtics Pull Away In Game 5 To Oust Magic From NBA Playoffs

Joe Mazzulla on the Magic series: “I thought that was the theme of the series was the trenches & the physicality there. Every series, every game presents lessons.”

On potential rest after closing the series in five: “It can be good, it can be bad.” @ABC6

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— Nick Coit (@NCoitABC6) April 30, 2025

BY JIMMY GOLEN

Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — When Magic star Paolo Banchero went to the bench with five fouls, the Boston Celtics pulled away and cruised into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Jayson Tatum had 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and the Celtics abandoned their usual 3-point barrage to beat Orlando 120-89 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.

Jayson Tatum after the Magic series: “This season was the most relaxed & carefree I’ve been in my career, understanding that we won last year…kind of got that monkey off your back.”

“Obviously the goal is still the same.”

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— Nick Coit (@NCoitABC6) April 30, 2025

The defending NBA champions will play either the New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons in the second round. The Knicks lead their series 3-2 despite falling 106-103 earlier Tuesday in New York.

“You just have to find different ways,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, whose team set NBA records in the regular season for the most 3-point baskets but made none at all in the first half — a first in almost four years.

“That’s what this series called for. Every series calls for different things,” Mazzulla said. “You have to be able to win in different ways on both sides of the ball.”

Jaylen Brown on the Magic series: “Orlando did a good job of trying to make us play a different style of ball and I think we adjusted to that well.”

“That was a great learning experience for us.”

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— Nick Coit (@NCoitABC6) April 30, 2025

Franz Wagner scored 25 points, Banchero had 19 and Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who have not won a playoff series since Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and coach Stan Van Gundy led them to the Eastern Conference finals in 2010.

Boston fell behind by nine in the first half, and Orlando still led 51-47 early in the third quarter when Banchero picked up his fourth foul; just 79 seconds later, he picked up his fifth, a call that sent an apoplectic coach Jamahl Mosley to the officials, demanding a review.

The replay showed Banchero stepped into Jaylen Brown as he shot, and the Magic forward went to the bench, where he stayed for the rest of the quarter. In that time, Boston scored 31 of the next 40 points to open an 83-62 lead.

“It definitely swung the series. It definitely swung the game,” Mosley said. “All I saw is Paolo getting an elbow to the face or back into the face — and he got the foul. That was a game-changer right there. Your best player picks up his fifth foul in the third quarter. It’s tough to come back from that moment.”