Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 35 points to help the Boston Celtics clinch their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with a 120-89 Game 5 victory on Tuesday night over the visiting Orlando Magic.
Tatum was 10 of 16 from the field and made all 11 of his free-throw attempts while adding eight rebounds and 10 assists as the Celtics wrapped up their first-round series in five games for the second year in a row. Jaylen Brown added 23 points for the Celtics, who outscored the Magic 73-40 in the second half.
The Magic lost their sixth consecutive first-round series — dating back to 2010-11 — despite 25 points from Franz Wagner. Paolo Banchero collected 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Wendell Carter Jr. added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Second-seeded Boston took control after Banchero went to the bench after being called for his fifth foul with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter. It was 53-53 at the time, but the Celtics outscored the seventh-seeded Magic 36-13 in the third and owned an 83-62 advantage entering the fourth. Boston had a 24-4 run in the third quarter.
Orlando had a 15-3 edge in offensive rebounds, but shot 8-of-38 from 3-point territory. The Magic shot 37.5 percent from the field in the game (33-of-88).
The Celtics didn’t make a 3-pointer until Tatum connected with 10:22 left in the third quarter, but they made 13-of-24 3-point attempts overall. Boston was 43-of-76 from the field (56.6 percent) in the game.
Boston was again without guard Jrue Holiday, who missed his third straight game with a strained right hamstring.
Orlando was up 27-23 after one quarter and, despite shooting 36.2 percent from the field (17 of 47) through the first two quarters, held a 49-47 halftime lead. Boston missed all six of its 3-point attempts in the first half.
–Field Level Media
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