After a strange first half that didn’t represent the entire season, the Boston Celtics caught fire in the second half, ending their first-round series against the Orlando Magic. After Orlando won Game 3 in his first home game, Boston rushed into the game over the last two games, earning a decisive opening series victory and having to withstand the Magic's physical performance in all five games.
The Celtics didn’t make three-point attempts in the first half of the game for the first time throughout the year, and Orlando struggled all year round with batting, and they struggled. The Celtics fought uphill throughout the first half and entered two games, but then the trouble of fouls would hurt Orlando’s star player in the third quarter, and Boston took advantage. After Paolo Banchero had to leave the game with his fifth individual foul in the fifth quarter, the Celtics began pouring the game out of Deep, almost all of which put the game at the end of the third frame.
It's a quick review of the Celtics' five-game victory, winning the first series of the playoffs this year, and they'll wait for the Knicks vs. Pistons series that rose 3-2 on Thursday to New York 3-2.
Jayson Tatum’s superstar: Jayson Tatum scored 35 or more in a row for the third straight game, putting Boston on his back and shouldering offensively in the decisive game. Tatum finished the night with 35 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds, and his efforts will allow coach Joe Mazzulla to play in less than four minutes. After missing the first playoff game in this series, Tatum made a highlight of three consecutive games of 35 or above.
Three-point shooting: For a team that had no three-point shooting percentage throughout the first half, Boston hit 13 of them in the second half, five more than the Magic. Their long-range efficiency in the second half constitutes the gap in Game 5's decisive factor. Boston’s reputation is to be a team that will always take place long-range attacks, which benefit them in the victory in this series.
With Game 6 playing on Thursday for the Knicks and the Pistons, the Celtics can learn about the fate of their next opponent through New York victory. Detroit won two games on the way to Madison Square Garden, including the 5th knockout Tuesday night, where they returned to Detroit to try and even the series. Boston will have time to rest and keep everyone waiting for the winner of this clumsy series.