Titan Celtics secure series victory over Magic, 120-89, in fifth game of playoffs (4-1)
In the pulsating Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Boston Celtics showed their unyielding grit, snatching victory from the Orlando Magic after losing their golden goose, Paolo Banchero, to foul troubles.
The game saw Jayson Tatum shone brightest, scoring a staggering 35 points, dishing out 10 assists, and grabbing 8 rebounds. The Celtics, known for their tireless 3-point barrage, opted for a tactical shift, ditching their usual long-range attack. This strategic move, fittingly, was masterminded by coach Joe Mazzulla, who highlighted the necessity of adaptability.
Despite their adjustments, the Celtics got off to a slow start, trailing the Magic by 9 points in the first half. Eventually, the Orlando outfit led 51-47 early in the third quarter when Banchero, their rising star, picked up his fourth foul. A mere 79 seconds later, he was benched for the rest of the quarter, following a controversial fifth foul. In his absence, Boston surged ahead, galloping to an 83-62 lead by the end of the quarter, thanks to a devastating 31-point scoring spree.
The sudden absence of Banchero, who recorded 19 points in the game, turned the tide, as coach Jamahl Mosley lamented, "It definitely swung the series. It definitely swung the game...Your best player picks up his fifth foul in the third quarter. It's tough to come back from that moment."
The Celtics' scoring machine, Jaylen Brown, weighed in with 23 points, while Tatum continued his impressive run, notching up three consecutive games of over 35 points. After nursing a wrist injury in Game 1 and missing Game 2, Tatum returned with a vengeance, maintaining his perfect free-throw record since Game 1 and converting 10 out of 16 field goal attempts.
The Celtics' abnormal 3-point absence in the first half raised a few eyebrows. They hadn't gone into halftime without a 3 since 2021, but amidst their tactical tweaks, their first 3-pointer only materialized early in the third quarter, with another seven minutes passing before their second stride-extender soared through the hoop.
As the series heads into the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Celtics, setting NBA records for 3-point baskets in the regular season, have demonstrated their ability to win games in unconventional ways. They'll face either the New York Knicks or the Detroit Pistons in the next round, the result of which remains uncertain, with the Knicks clinging to a slim 3-2 lead following a nail-biting 106-103 loss in the second leg of their series.
In the modified game strategy, the Celtics, known for their 3-point barrage, chose to abandon their usual long-range attack, focusing more on other aspects of the game. Amidst their tactical shift, the absence of Banchero, Orlando's rising star, due to foul troubles significantly impacted the game, with the Celtics capitalizing on his absence to mount a comeback.
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