Recap: Celtics Keep Pace in East, Top Magic 132-96 in Fournier’s Return to Orlando
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Kemba Walker returned to the lineup and scored a game-high 32 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 132-96.
Boston also got 27 points from Jayson Tatum while former Magic guard Evan Fournier added 18 points in his first game against his former team.
The Magic were paced by recently released Mo Wagner and Dwayne Bacon with 20 points each. Mo Bamba had 19 points and 15 rebounds while reserve RJ Hampton scored 18 points.
The Celtics came out like gangbusters and jumped out to a 24-7 lead on a Smart three-point field goal. Walker had 10 of the team’s first 13 points and ended the first with 14 as Boston led 39-27 after one. Tatum took over the offense in the second as he scored 12 of his 27 in the period. Walker added six more points as the Celtics recovered from a Magic run in the first to lead 63-45 at the half.
Boston continued the offensive onslaught in the third as Walker was fouled on a three-point shot attempt and made all three free throws to push the lead up to 73-50. Tatum added 13 points in the third as the Celtics closed the quarter with a 100-75 advantage. Grant Williams made a bucket and the lead grew to 30 (112-82) with 8:34 left in the game. Stevens began to remove the starters and the reserves finished up the victory.
Boston moves to 35-3 on the season. They are currently tied with the Miami Heat for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, but the Celtics hold the tiebreaker as of now. The Heat come to TD Garden on May 9th and May 11th for two games that could be the difference in who gets the sixth spot and avoids the play-in tournament.
Before that, however, the Celtics will travel to Chicago to take on the Bulls this Friday, May 7. That game tips off at 7:30 p.m. (EST) on NBC Sports Boston.
