The Magic still showed some fight in Toronto. Two days after losing by 30 in that building, they won 121-114, led at the end of every quarter and turned it over just 5 times. Desmond Bane scored 28 with 6 threes, Franz Wagner had 26 points and 11 assists, and Wendell Carter Jr. added 20 and 7. A short rotation like that can win a game on a hot shooting night. The real question is whether it can do it 2 nights out of 3.
Some of Boston's 4-0 homestand looks better on paper than it was. The Celtics needed every point to get by Brooklyn 125-124. In the Bulls rematch they were up 78-49 at halftime and then lost the 2nd half 62-47. Chicago has given up 124 or more in every game, so the Pritchard numbers came against one of the league's softest defenses. Orlando's defense held up in Toronto, with 13 blocks, but it also gave up 132 to Atlanta and 129 to the Raptors earlier in the week.
Boston has an absence too. Devin Carter is out with mono and no timetable, which takes a guard out of the rotation, but the Celtics haven't missed him much yet. Orlando is the opposite. Both of its losses so far came at Kia Center, against Atlanta and Minnesota, and the Magic have looked more comfortable on the road. Tip is 3:30 PM ET.
Here's what to watch. Boston's guards will try to make a thin Orlando group chase shooters all afternoon. The Magic need Bane and Wagner to carry the scoring again and need Carter Jr. to win the paint. If Orlando's 3s fall the way they did in Toronto, this could be close. If they don't, the Magic don't have the depth to keep up.