Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic
PREVIEW:
The Boston Celtics will look to close out their first-round NBA playoff series against the Orlando Magic in Game 5 at TD Garden on Tuesday, April 29, holding a commanding 3-1 lead. Coming off a 107-98 victory in Game 4, the Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum's impressive 37-point, 14-rebound performance, while Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds. ShotQuality data remains unavailable for both teams heading into this potential series-clinching matchup, though Boston's offense has consistently ranked near the top of the league all season. The Celtics' exceptional free-throw shooting proved decisive in Game 4, where they connected on 30 of 32 attempts compared to Orlando's 14-for-20 showing from the line.
Boston enters as a substantial 12-point favorite with the over/under set at 199.5 points, though the teams combine to average 221.7 points per game during the regular season. The Magic will need significant offensive improvement from Paolo Banchero (who scored 31 points in Game 4) and Franz Wagner (24 points) if they hope to extend the series, as they've struggled to maintain consistent scoring against Boston's defense. Jrue Holiday remains questionable for the Celtics after missing Games 3 and 4, while Orlando will be without Jalen Suggs and Moe Wagner due to injuries. The winner of this series will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where the Celtics are widely expected to continue their championship pursuit despite lacking key ShotQuality metrics that typically indicate postseason success.