Celtics Seek Consistency as Magic Look to Fix 3-Point Woes

The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic are both searching for answers as they prepare to meet at TD Garden on Friday night. For the Celtics, it’s about rediscovering their early-season dominance, while the Magic aim to shake off recent struggles and improve their shooting from beyond the arc.

Celtics Fighting for Consistency

The Celtics haven’t resembled the championship contenders they were early in the season. A 110-97 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday dropped Boston to a middling 7-7 over their last 14 games. The Celtics struggled offensively, scoring fewer than 100 points for the third time this season—all of which have come in their last three losses.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla kept his postgame message simple, urging his team to refocus and tighten their execution.

One bright spot for Boston has been the play of Kristaps Porziņģis. Against Toronto, Porziņģis delivered a strong performance with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also added eight rebounds and two blocked shots. The sharpshooting big man has made at least three 3-pointers in each of his last three games, providing a steady offensive presence amidst Boston’s struggles.

However, troubling trends persist. Boston has lost by double digits in three of its last five games—a stark contrast to their first 35 games, in which they didn’t suffer a single double-digit defeat.

Magic Struggling to Find Their Rhythm

The Orlando Magic have faced their own challenges, dropping three of their last four games. Their latest setback, a lopsided 122-93 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, highlighted key issues, including turnovers and poor shooting.

Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 22 points against Milwaukee but struggled with ball security, committing seven turnovers. Still working his way back after missing 34 games with a torn right oblique, Banchero has been a vital piece for the Magic but needs to find his rhythm.

The Magic’s Achilles’ heel this season has been their 3-point shooting. Entering Thursday, Orlando ranks last in the NBA in 3-point percentage at just 30.7%. Against Milwaukee, the team went an abysmal 12-for-46 (26.1%) from beyond the arc—the 21st time this season they’ve shot below 30% from deep.

Despite their shooting woes, Orlando has been solid defensively, allowing the fewest points per game (103.7) in the Eastern Conference. However, their league-worst scoring offense (104.5 points per game) has prevented them from capitalizing on their defensive efforts.

A Look Back and What’s at Stake

Friday marks the second meeting of the season between these two teams. The Magic earned a surprising 108-104 victory at home on Dec. 23, overcoming a 15-point halftime deficit. The Celtics will undoubtedly look to avenge that loss and defend their home court.

Boston remains one of the top teams in the East in scoring (117.5 points per game) and defense (allowing 108.7 points per game), and they’ll need both ends of the floor to click to regain their form. Meanwhile, Orlando will try to lean on their defense to disrupt Boston’s potent offense while searching for ways to improve their efficiency from beyond the arc.

Both teams are in search of much-needed momentum, and this matchup offers an opportunity to turn the tide. For Boston, it’s about proving they’re still a championship-caliber team. For Orlando, it’s about showing they can compete with one of the league’s elite.

The stage is set for a compelling Eastern Conference battle at TD Garden. Will the Celtics restore their dominance, or will the Magic conjure another upset?

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