Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Paolo Banchero added on Friday evening 29 and the Orlando Magic Bost Boston 95-93 to lower the lead from the Celtics to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference First-Round series.
Jayson Tatum had 36 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics in his return to the starting line -up after missing game 2 with a bruised wrist.
The defensive NBA champions were 33-8 on the road this season, but are now 0-3 in Orlando in 2024-25. The Magic Host Game 4 on Sunday.
After scoring only 11 points in the third quarter, Boston gathered to bind it 91 on the layout of Derrick White with 2:31 to play. Wagner answered with a layout and after Miss by Tatum, followed by another basket for a 95-91 lead with 1:26 to play.
White scored and after Wagner was abused on 3-guide, the Celtics got the ball and found with 0.3 seconds, but White’s Pass was beaten to the basket as time passed.
Jaylen Brown had 19 points for the Celtics, which went for 17 minutes without a 3-point basket in the second half.
The Celtics played without Jrue Holiday, who has a tense right hamstring.
Tatum, which was mentioned as doubtful on Friday afternoon, scored 21 points in the first half and led the Celtics to 10-point lead.
In the second half, Tatum’s 3-Pointer extended their lead to 11, but the Celtics missed 17 of their new 19 shots and did not hit 3-point Scottish shot until Horford was already connected to 6:20 in the fourth quarter.
Wagner and Bancher combined for nine points on a 14-0 run that pulled the magic ahead and they led 86-74 after the third quarter.
Reporting by the Associated Press.
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