Sports
Jayson Tatum scores 32 and shakes off a head knock as Celtics beat Magic for fifth straight win
Jayson Tatum scored 32 points with 15 coming at the free-throw line. Paul George added 17 as the Celtics beat the Magic 108-97 to improve to 5-1.
Jayson Tatum scored 32 points on Sunday as the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 108-97 for their fifth straight win.
Tatum made 15 of his 17 free throws. The entire Magic team took only 19.
Paul George added 17 points. Ten of them came in the fourth quarter as Boston improved to 5-1.
A scare in the first quarter
Tatum had to leave late in the first quarter. The back of his head accidentally hit the forehead of Orlando's Jamal Cain.
He was bleeding and went to the locker room. He came back with 6:13 left in the first half.
Holding off Orlando
Boston opened the second half on a run and led by 15. Orlando came all the way back behind Tristan da Silva, who hit five 3-pointers. The Magic used a 12-0 run to get within 77-74 after three quarters.
Anthony Black tied it at 79 early in the fourth with a steal and a three-point play. Every time Orlando got close after that, Tatum answered.
Neemias Queta started at center with Mitchell Robinson resting. He came up with two big blocks in the final two minutes. George's 3-pointer with 1:32 left put the game away.
Black and da Silva each scored 23 for Orlando. Franz Wagner had 14 points and a career-high 12 assists. The Magic are 2-4 and still winless at home with Paolo Banchero out with a high ankle sprain.
The Celtics visit the Houston Rockets on Monday night.
More like this
Jayson Tatum scores 36 and takes over late as the Celtics hold off the champion Knicks 107-103
Celtics pull away from the Hornets 114-93 to stay perfect in the preseason
Desmond Bane and Franz Wagner lead the Magic past the Raptors 121-114 despite Scottie Barnes' 41
Pistons rally past Celtics 121-113 in NBA opener, spoiling Paul George's 38-point debut