Boston Celtics: 1 stud and 1 dud from shocking loss to Magic

The Boston Celtics started their seven-game homestand poorly on Friday night — with the Orlando Magic defeating the Celtics 117-109, spoiling the long-awaited return of Robert Williams III.

The Celtics started the game on a 14-4 run and looked poised for a big win. Orlando quickly turned it around as they finished the first quarter on a 28-14 run. The Cs lacked energy following their strong start, and their inefficiency from the field contributed to their poor play. Friday night was a prime example of a team’s inability to make shots affecting their defense and energy level.

The Cs shot 41.7% from the field and an abysmal 23.9% from 3-point range. There was not a lack of bright spots, however, as Jayson Tatum came up with 31 points, and the Cs saw flashes of their true potential. With the return of Robert Williams Ⅲ, the C’s ball movement improved, and it shows another level that they can get to. Williams finished with nine points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Despite the early foul trouble, Williams had a solid outing.

The struggles for the C’s came in the third quarter when a wave of fouls and poor decisions hit them. Al Horford got ejected in the third quarter for elbowing Moritz Wagner, and Jayson Tatum received a technical foul. These plays negatively impacted the Celtics, and they ruined the flow of the game. The Celtics were ultimately unable to recover, and they suffered a shocking loss.

The loss snaps a ten-game win streak over the Magic, and it is a bad loss considering the Magic were 1-11 on the road heading into the game. The Celtics will look to get revenge on Sunday when they host the Magic.

Here is one stud and one dud from the shocking loss.

Boston Celtics Stud: Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum is the stud for the Celtics tonight, as he had a solid game. Tatum finished with 31 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. He also shot an efficient 11/12 from the free-throw line. The 31 points gave Tatum his 15th 30-point game this season.

Tatum was in attack mode for most of the game, and he had some nice finishes at the rim. His three-point efficiency was poor but his scoring output kept the Celtics in the game. Tatum continues to play at an MVP level, and he will need to continue playing well on the homestand.

Expect Tatum to have a big performance on Sunday that leads to a revenge victory for the C’s.

Boston Celtics Dud: Derrick White

Although Al Horford’s ejection was frustrating, Derrick White is the dud for the Celtics. White has been struggling recently, and he had another poor performance. White started and finished with three points, three rebounds, and one assist. This is a poor performance for White as he had no real impact on the game.

White’s struggles come at a poor time for the Celtics as other role players are struggling from the field. Sam Hauser and Malcolm Brogdon struggled tonight, which contributed to the poor offensive performance. The Cs are at their best when their role players are knocking down shots.

White will need to start playing better or he will quickly lose his spot in the starting lineup.