at   
Orlando Magic (10-20)  at Boston Celtics (22-8)   
Sunday, December 18, 2022
3:00 PM ET
Regular Season Game #31, Home Game #15
TV:  NBCSB, BSFL, NBA-LP
Radio: WBZ-FM, WYGM AM/FM
TD Garden



Probable Celtics Starters
PGSG SF PF C
PG: Marcus Smart
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Grant Williams
C:  Al Horford

Celtics Reserves
Robert Williams III
Malcolm Brogdon
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Luke Kornet
Blake Griffin
Justin Jackson
Noah Vonleh

2 Way Players
JD Davison
Mfiondu Kabengele

Out/Injuries
Danilo Gallinari  (ACL)  out
Jayson Tatum (personal) out

Head Coach (Interim)
Joe Mazzulla


Possible Magic Starters

PG:  Markelle Fultz
SG:  Franz Wagner
SF:   Paolo Banchero
PF:   Bol Bol
C:   Moritz Wagner

Magic Reserves
Mo Bamba
RJ Hampton
Caleb Houston
Cole Anthony
Terrance Ross

2 Way Players
Kevon Harris
Admiral Schofield

Out/Injuries
Gary Harris   (hamstring) out
Jonathan Isaac (knee) out
Wendell Carter, Jr (foot) out
Chuma Okeke (knee) out
Jalen Suggs  (ankle) out

Head Coach
Jamahl Mosley

Game Notes
For the second time in 3 days, the Celtics face the Orlando Magic at home.  This is the 3rd of 4 games between these two teams this season.  The Celtics won the first game 126-120 in Orlando on October 22.  The Magic came into the Garden on Friday and beat the Celtics 117-109. They will meet one more time after this on January 23 in Orlando. 

The Celtics remain in first place in the East, although their lead has shrunk to 1 game over the second place Milwaukee Bucks.  The Celtics are 11-3 at home and 6-4 in their last 10 games.  They have lost 3 of their last 4 games, including their last game against the Magic on Friday.  This is the second game of a 7 game home stand that will take them through the end of the year. 

The Magic are 15th in the East.  They are 2.5 games ahead of the last place Charlotte Hornets.  They are also 3.5 games behind 10th place and a play in spot.  They are 2-11 on the road, and had only won one other road game before they beat the Celtics on Friday.  They are 5-5 in their last 10 games.  This is the second game of a 4 game road trip for them.  They have won their last 5 games.

Jayson Tatum is expected to miss this game due to personal reasons.  On Friday, Robert Williams returned to the Celtics after missing the first 29 games of the season.  He came off the bench in that game but with Tatum missing this game, he may return to the starting lineup,  or Mazzulla may once again go with Grant Williams to replace Tatum.  Danilo Gallinari remains out as he rehabs his knee.

The Magic were missing 5 players in Friday's game and they are expected to be without those same 5 players in this game, although several of those players are traveling with the team.  Wendell Carter, Jr (foot),  Gary Harris (hamstring), Chuma Okeke (knee), Jonathan Isaac (knee), and Jalen Suggs (ankle) missed Friday's game and will also miss this game. 

Key Matchups
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Jaylen Brown vs Paolo Banchero
Banchero was the #1 pick in this season's draft and is a candidate for Rookie of the Year.  He is averaging 21.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.  He is shooting 45.1% from the field and 25.6% from beyond the arc.  On Friday, he finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.   Jaylen struggled handling the ball in Friday's game, turning it over 7 times.  He needs to come into this game focused on playing defense and on taking better care of the ball. 

vs
Derrick White vs Franz Wagner
Wagner is averaging 19.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists.  He is shooting 49.3% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc.  Wagner finished Friday's game with 19 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.  The Celtics need to play better defense in this game and try to limit Wagner in this game. 

Honorable Mention
Al Horford vs Moritz Wagner
Wagner obviously has a chip on his shoulder against the Celtics after being waived by them after only a month with the team.  He finished Friday's game with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.  He also baited the usually unflappable Al Horford into an ejection.  If Robert Williams starts, he, rather than Horford, will be tasked with trying to limit Wagner in this game. 

Keys to the Game
Defense -  I can't say it enough, but defense is always the key to winning.   Last season, the Celtics won games with their defense, when the offense sputtered as it is now.  They have to get back to making defense their identity, rather than depending on shooting 40+% on threes every game.  The Celtics have the same core as last season and every player needs to commit to playing tough lock down defense in every game. 

Rebound - Rebounding is also crucial if a team wants to win games.  The Celtics were out rebounded 53-38 by the Magic in Friday's game.  The Magic had 20 second chance points to just 6 for the Celtics.  Much of rebounding is effort and hustle and if the Celtics put the extra effort into grabbing rebounds, they usually show effort in all parts of the game. 

Effort and Focus - The Celtics allowed the Magic to play harder than them and it cost them the game.  Last season, the Celtics were the team winning games by playing harder.  They need to get back to being the team that plays harder, especially on the defensive end of the court.   They also have to keep their focus and not allow the officiating or the Magic players to affect them. 

Move the Ball Carefully - The Celtics only had 17 assists on 35 made baskets.  The Celtics play best when they share the ball and keep it moving.  They can't try to do too much individually or the offense gets bogged down.  They need to move the ball to find the best shots instead of taking quick shots or over dribbling.  They also had 14 turnovers (7 from Jaylen Brown) and so they have to move the ball carefully and not get sloppy. 

X-Factors
Revenge Game - The Celtics were embarrassed by the Magic at home on Friday.  The Celtics mostly beat themselves and they need to come into this game looking to avenge that loss and to re-establish themselves as the top team in the league.  Contenders shouldn't lose to lottery teams and so the Celtics need to come into this game focused and not underestimate the Magic again. 

Officiating - Officiating can always be an X-Factor.  In some games, you don't even notice the referees and in other games, they seem to make the game all about them.  Some crews call the game tight and others let the teams play.  Some crews favor one of the teams while others call it fairly.  No matter how the game is called, the Celtics must adjust to the way the game is being called and not allow the officiating to take away from their focus.  Complaining to the refs rarely does anything positive and often results in a tech or more calls against them.