The second-seeded Boston Celtics, who are also the defending NBA champions, will aim to establish a commanding lead in their first-round Eastern Conference series against the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic when the teams face off in Game 2 on Wednesday. Boston secured a relatively comfortable 103-86 victory in Game 1 on Sunday, a game where they only trailed for a brief three-minute span. The Magic concluded the regular season with a 41-41 record and posted a 19-23 mark on the road in 2025. The Celtics, boasting an impressive 61-21 regular season record and a strong plus-9.1 point differential for the season, were formidable at home with a 29-13 record. A notable injury concern for Boston heading into the game is the doubtful status of small forward Jayson Tatum due to a wrist issue.
Game 2 is set for tipoff at 7 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston. This upcoming contest represents the fourth time these two franchises have met in a postseason series; historically, Orlando holds a 2-1 series lead in their prior playoff matchups.
Celtics Key Players and Performance
Point guard Derrick White delivered a stellar performance in the Game 1 victory, finishing with 30 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. He has consistently been a solid offensive presence for the Celtics, averaging 16.4 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds across 76 starts during the regular season. White has been particularly consistent, reaching double-digit scoring in 34 consecutive games leading into the playoffs and recording four double-doubles over the season. In his career appearances against Orlando, White has averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in approximately 29 minutes per contest.
Another key contributor for Boston is shooting guard Jaylen Brown. In their two regular-season matchups against the Magic, Brown averaged 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 35 minutes per game. In the Game 1 win, he contributed 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Over 63 starts in the regular season, Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals over 34.3 minutes.
Magic Key Players and Performance
For the Magic, power forward Paolo Banchero posted a double-double in the series opener. Across 42 minutes on the court, he registered 36 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block. In 46 starts this season, his regular-season averages were 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 34.4 minutes. Banchero recorded 11 regular-season double-doubles this year and has accumulated 44 throughout his career, including playoff games.
Small forward Franz Wagner is also a crucial player for the Magic. He contributed 23 points, five assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in 36 minutes during the Game 1 loss. Wagner had a strong regular season, averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals across 60 starts. The fourth-year player also achieved a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes during the team`s 120-95 play-in game victory against the Atlanta Hawks on April 15th.
Outlook for Game 2
As the series progresses, Game 2 is highly anticipated to see how both teams adjust following the opening contest. The Magic will look to bounce back and challenge the Celtics on their home court, while Boston aims to build on their initial success and protect their home advantage.
Jasper Hawthorne