Growth, at times, can be as painful and agonizing as it is rewarding, and the Celtics experienced that firsthand in their NBA Cup duel with the Magic on Friday night.
Over six months after eliminating the Magic in the first round of last season’s NBA Playoffs, Boston returned to Orlando — this time significantly more ill-equipped. Instead of sitting 15 miles away from Disney World, chasing a championship repeat, the Celtics are grappling for validation as a team that can hold its own and compete without Jayson Tatum. That journey began favorably when the Celtics kicked off their NBA Cup bid against the Sixers in Philadelphia, but the follow-up showed that Boston’s luck from the City of Brotherly Love was no match for Orlando’s fourth-quarter magic.
The Celtics stayed competitive throughout the second half, keeping the Magic on edge until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. But a careless turnover by first-year forward Josh Minott swung momentum decisively in Orlando’s favor. Magic guard Anthony Black intercepted Minott’s errant pass and finished a layup, giving Orlando a 97-96 lead. From there, Boston fell victim to a 26-14 run, plagued by undisciplined play and offensive struggles, which sealed their fate in a 123-110 loss at the Kia Center.
Jaylen Brown views the late-game spill through a more optimistic lens.
“I think we’re growing. I think we’re getting better,” Brown said. “I’m liking what I’m seeing from certain guys, and that’s the most important thing — continuing to get better. And I know we’re not an organization or fanbase that makes excuses, especially in games that we can win, but it’s a part of the learning curve and process. It’s still early in the season, and we gotta continue to fight. I’m gonna continue to fight, continue to help my teammates get better, continue to give the game what it needs, but that’s a part of it.”
Minott’s turnover, reckless and reflective of Boston’s current state, wasn’t the only reason for the defeat.
Boston committed 14 turnovers, including five in the fourth quarter. That’s not like the C’s. Typically, the Celtics aren’t just disciplined — they’re the NBA’s most disciplined team when it comes to protecting the ball, averaging a league-best 11.2 turnovers per game entering Friday night.
Brown and Payton Pritchard, both team leaders, each committed key turnovers during Orlando’s late rally, underscoring Boston’s ongoing search for growth and consistency.
“I think it’s just being more attentive to what’s going on and valuing those possessions,” Anfernee Simons added. “Those can be growing pains — us as a team being in those positions together for the first time. As we go through these situations, we’ll get better at them. I think tonight we can learn a lot from this one, especially at the end of the game.”
The difference between Celtics wins and losses this season has often come down to limiting miscues as much as possible. On nights when they’re able to keep their turnover count low, it translates. On nights when they crash the boards and keep opponents from stockpiling on offensive rebounds and second-chance points, it translates. Despite the team’s sluggish start with the 3-pointer — Boston ranks first in 3-point attempts (46) and 27th in 3-point percentage (32.3%) — the Celtics have shown they can perform like the Celtics of the past.
“We’ll obviously just go back and watch the film and start with the things that you can control,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They had 29 points in transition. Obviously, some free throws there, some critical free throws that we could get better at, and just offensive execution. So we’ll take a look at that (on Saturday).”
Minott’s turnover, if anything, emphasized the importance of tackling the margin for error.
That’s where the Celtics fell very, very short in Orlando.
Momentum is a critical component of navigating four 12-minute quarters. For a team built like the Celtics, it’s especially vital, since the “savior” of the night can be anyone. It won’t always be Brown, Pritchard, or Derrick White. We’ve already seen Hugo González, Jordan Walsh, and Minott step into the spotlight and make an impact. They’ve shown that, regardless of past seasons or their spot on the depth chart, everyone wearing a Celtics uniform will get an at-bat.
Momentum is what kept the Celtics in the running for a 2-0 NBA Cup headstart, and it’s what dragged them to a loss to begin their three-game road trip.
“It always comes down to pockets of that,” Mazzulla said. “If it’s a blowout, they get talked over, and we talk about other stuff. In this situation, those (momentum swings) get magnified. And I think that’s the growth that we just have to continue to fight for as a team — we brought the effort and the physicality, but we gotta bring the execution. In a game of swings like that, where it’s close throughout most of it, those plays matter and they’re magnified, and we just gotta be better.”
