“We need to play with an edge defensively and offensively. We’ve got to be the harder playing team. That can’t be negotiable. And [against the Nets] we weren’t. Brooklyn was the harder playing team. They played with more edge and they deserved to win.”
Nine of the Celtics’ next 10 opponents have a winning record. The Magic arrive in Boston a couple weeks after splitting a back-to-back with the Celtics in Orlando.
Here’s a preview:
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: NBCSB, WROR-FM 105.7
Line: Boston -4.5. O/U: 221.0.
MAGIC
Season record: 10-7. vs. spread: 9-8. Over/under: 10-7
Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 7-3
CELTICS
Season record: 8-8. vs. spread: 6-10. Over/under: 6-10
Last 10 games: 5-5. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 4-6
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Orlando 117.6, Boston 113.2
Points allowed per game: Orlando 113.6, Boston 108.8
Field goal percentage: Orlando .476, Boston .452
Opponent field goal percentage: Orlando .468, Boston .439
3-point percentage: Orlando .350, Boston .346
Opponent 3-point percentage: Orlando .358, Boston .358
Stat of the day: Five of Boston’s eight victories have come against sub-.500 teams.
Notes: One positive in Boston’s loss was the performance of Anfernee Simons, who played a season-high 33 minutes off the bench and scored 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. He also grabbed three rebounds, had two steals, and tied for the team lead in assists with four. … It was the third time Simons has scored at least 20 points in a game this season, and his first game with at least 10 field goals since last March. … The Celtics will be facing one of the NBA’s hottest teams. Franz Wagner scored a season-high 37 points to help the Magic extend their winning streak to three games by beating New York at home on Saturday night. … Orlando, which will play its next three games on the road, has won six of its last seven and nine of its last 12. … Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley did not coach in the second half against New York. He addressed the media following the game and said he felt light-headed and dizzy on the sideline, but expects to coach against Boston. … Magic forward Paolo Banchero missed his fifth straight game Saturday because of a left groin strain. He is averaging 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 12 games this season. Mosley said Banchero will not play against the Celtics. … Orlando has scored at least 120 points in four of its last six games. The Magic scored 120 points or more 10 times last season.
Information from Field Level Media and Stats, Inc., was included in this report.
Matt Pepin can be reached at matt.pepin@globe.com.
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