The Boston Celtics’ nine-game winning streak ended on Tuesday night, 24th Jan 2023, as they were stunned by the Orlando Magic 113-98. The Celtics, who had been playing some of their best basketball of the season, were outplayed by the Magic on both ends of the court.
The Magic, who sit third from bottom in the Eastern Conference, put on a masterclass in the matchup. Banchero finished with a game-high 23 points, while Isaac, who hadn’t played since August 2020 due to a severe knee injury, added 18. The Celtics, who had been on a hot streak since the start of the season, failed to keep up with their opponents, with Jayson Brown and Jaylen Tatum’s 26 points each not enough to bridge the gap.
The loss was the Celtics’ first since 4th January 2023 and came as a surprise to those who had expected them to make light work of the struggling Magic. However, it was a testament to the fighting spirit of the Magic, who managed to out-hustle and outplayed the higher-placed Celtics.
The game was a reminder that the Celtics are still a work in progress, and if they need to make a deep run in the playoffs, they must find a way to regain the form that had them on such a winning run.