Gordon Hayward scored 31, and Jayson Tatum added 29 as the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Orlando Magic in overtime, 122-119.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement/Pool Photo
Hayward also added 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in 66.7% shooting, while Tatum recorded 9 boards and 6 dimes. 23-year old guard Jaylen Brown also contributed 19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block, although All-Star guard Kemba Walker had a quient game of only 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists in 1 out of 9 shooting.
Magic center Nikola Vucevic garnered 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 assist and Gary Clark added 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. 6’6 guard Terrence Ross and former 1st overall pick Markelle Fultz combined for 34 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block to contribute for Orlando off the bench.
The game was close all-night long, separating the two teams as much as 8 points. The Magic had a 5-point lead. 110-105, with less than a minute in the game before the Celtics fought back and tied the game with a game-saving fade-away shot from Tatum with 4.2 seconds left in the game clock.
Orlando had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but Tatum spoiled Terrence Ross’s game-winning shot with a block to send the game to an extension period. The Magic once again had a 2-point lead in overtime, before the Celtics took it back ,116-114, with 2:14 seconds left.
Celtics center Daniel Theis spread the lead to 5-points off a cutting lay up, 122-117, with 33.3 seconds left. The Magic had some moments to come back but could not deliver.
SCORES
Celtics (122)- Hayward 31, Tatum 29, Brown 19, Wanamaker 10, Smart 8, Williams III 8, Theis 6, Walker 4, Kanter, 4, Ojeleye 3
Magic (119)- Vucevic 26, Ross 18, Fultz 16, Clark 15, Augustin 12, Ennis III 10, Iwundu 9, Frazier Jr. 8, Birch 4, Law 1