04/26/2025
Celtics Collapse Late in 95-93 Loss to Magic Amid Turnovers and Coaching Missteps
In a game that came down to the final seconds, the Boston Celtics squandered multiple opportunities and fell to the Orlando Magic 95-93 in a frustrating loss defined by turnovers, poor decision-making, and questionable coaching choices.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum were both active—but not always in the right ways. Tatum poured in 36 points on 10-of-22 shooting and grabbed 9 rebounds, but committed several costly turnovers down the stretch. Brown added 19 points but struggled with ball control and decision-making, turning the ball over multiple times while often forcing the issue offensively.
Perhaps the most baffling decision of the night came from head coach Joe Mazzulla, who left Brown in the game until just 40 seconds remained—despite his clear struggles on both ends. That non-substitution loomed large as the Celtics failed to generate clean offense or contain Orlando’s physical wing players late in the game.
The Celtics’ offense lacked flow throughout, especially in the second half, and Sam Hauser once again failed to make an impact. Logging 13 minutes, Hauser went scoreless and was a non-factor defensively—a continuation of a deeply underwhelming postseason performance. With Joe Mazzulla hesitant to go deeper into the bench, the margin for error shrunk dramatically, and Boston paid the price.
Kristaps Porzingis had one of his worst games of the postseason, finishing with just 6 points on 3-of-10 shooting. With Derrick White and Al Horford contributing solid efforts—White notching 16 points and 5 assists, and Horford adding 6 points and 7 boards—it still wasn’t enough to make up for the sloppy ex*****on and mental lapses.
On the other side, Orlando was led by Paolo Banchero’s 29 points and Franz Wagner’s 32. Despite shooting just 41% from the field and 25% from deep, the Magic dominated the offensive glass (15 offensive rebounds) and kept applying pressure defensively, forcing key turnovers and out-executing the Celtics late.
The absence of Jrue Holiday continues to loom large for Boston. His poise, defense, and ability to calm the offense in tense moments were sorely missed. Until he returns to full health, the Celtics are relying on lineups that often can’t hold up under postseason pressure.
Boston now faces real questions—both on the court and on the sideline. If Mazzulla can’t find the right adjustments and the stars continue to underperform in key stretches, this promising season could slip away faster than anyone expected.
