Celtics formally have a first-round playoff opponent

It’s official: the Celtics and the Orlando Magic will face off within the first spherical of the playoffs, set to start on Sunday, April twentieth.

That’s as a result of the Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 on Tuesday evening in a Play-In sport match-up between the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds within the Jap Convention. Because of the blowout victory, the Magic received the best to face Boston, whereas the Hawks will play the winner of the Play-In sport between the Miami Warmth and Chicago Bulls.

Joe Mazzulla stated at follow on Tuesday that the Celtics had assistant coaches scouting each the Hawks and Magic all yr — and the group was unsurprisingly ready for each outcomes.

“The blokes main the cost [in preparing] are those who have been main the cost all through the season,” Mazzulla stated.

Now, the coaches who prepped for the Magic, might be activated because the Celtics have 4 days to arrange for his or her first-round opponents. The group will follow once more on Wednesday earlier than an off-day on Thursday.

Cole Anthony led the way in which for the Magic within the Play-In victory

Cole Anthony led the Magic with 26 factors off the bench on Tuesday evening, whereas Wendell Carter Jr (19 factors) and Paolo Banchero (17 factors) have been each key contributors.

Anthony expressed his pleasure for the upcoming sequence postgame, and specifically, for the prospect to play in Boston.

“It’s gonna be a heck of a sequence, man,” Anthony stated, per Magic HQ reporter Brett James. I really went to the championship sport in Boston final yr — I acquired to essentially see how that atmosphere was firsthand and that’s in all probability the craziest atmosphere of a sport I’ve seen.”

The Magic’s prime scorers this season are Banchero (25.9 factors per sport), Franz Wagner (24.2 factors), Jalen Suggs (16.2 factors), and Mo Wagner (12.9 factors).

However, each Suggs and Mo Wagner suffered season-ending accidents, and the Magic’s offense has struggled mightily of their absence.

The Magic blew out the Celtics when the 2 groups confronted off final week, however that sport wasn’t indicative of a lot, contemplating the Celtics rested their prime six gamers.

It was enterprise as ordinary on the Celtics’ follow on Tuesday

The Celtics look to grow to be the primary group to go back-to-back for the reason that Golden State Warriors did it in 2017 and 2018.

And, whereas Al Horford received back-to-back NCAA titles in faculty, nobody on on the roster has received back-to-back NBA championships.

Vacation is the one member of the group who’s been part of a title protection season; his Milwaukee Bucks group received the championship in 2021, however he subsequently fell to the Celtics within the second spherical of the 2022 playoffs.

“We thought we had an opportunity of going back-to-back,” Vacation stated. “However generally, issues occur. Well being is an enormous a part of it. There’s a bit little bit of luck. However I believe it’s about getting ready for our personal journey, and doing it worrying about us, worrying in regards to the issues that we will management.”

At follow Tuesday, Joe Mazzulla confused that nothing is altering within the Celtics’ preparation because the group transitions for the common season to the playoffs.

The gamers who spoke at Tuesday’s follow agreed.

“Actually, I believe it’s the identical,” Vacation stated of his strategy getting into the playoffs. “It’s mentally being ready… bodily being ready.”

Al Horford credited the Celtics for by no means wanting too far forward this season — and famous that he personally appreciated and embraced each step of the journey this previous yr.

“Immediately was a great begin for us,” Horford stated. “We had a great follow.”

The Celtics’ title protection formally begins on Sunday, although the complete first-round playoff schedule has but to be launched.