Boston Celtics beat Orlando without Tatum to take 2-0 NBA playoff lead

Jaylen Brown leads Boston past Orlando as Cavaliers fend off Miami to secure series advantage.

Al Horford of the Boston Celtics grabs a rebound over Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cory Joseph of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden. Photo by Matt Stone/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Boston Celtics beat Orlando Magic 109-100 on Wednesday night, grabbing a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series. Playing without star forward Jayson Tatum, who was sidelined due to a wrist injury, the defending champions showed their depth and resilience in front of a raucous home crowd at TD Garden.

Jaylen Brown rose to the occasion, delivering a standout performance with 36 points, including five of seven from beyond the arc. The win marks a pivotal moment for Boston, proving they can still dominate even without their leading scorer.

The Celtics’ win underscored their playoff ambitions as they continue their journey to defend their NBA title. Boston Celtics beat Orlando is especially fitting given the odds they overcame in game two.

Porzingis fights through injury in gritty Celtics win

Kristaps Porzingis also played a crucial role for Boston, contributing 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, matching Brown and veteran Al Horford on the glass. Despite suffering a bloody cut to his forehead late in the third quarter — the result of an elbow from Orlando center Goga Bitadze — Porzingis returned to the game after receiving five stitches, earning loud cheers from the home crowd.

His toughness embodied Boston’s attitude on the night. Even after the flagrant foul on Bitadze was called and Porzingis briefly exited, he returned to hit his free throws before heading back to the locker room, only to rejoin the action in the final quarter.

Boston held a 50-47 lead at halftime but broke away in the third with an 11-0 run that built momentum. Though the Magic responded with a brief spurt, the Celtics answered quickly and closed the quarter ahead 81-71.

Orlando fights back but falls short in game two

Despite the loss, Orlando was led by Paolo Banchero’s 32 points and Franz Wagner’s 25. The Magic mounted several comeback attempts in the second half, reducing the deficit to as little as five points in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t complete the turnaround.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played a central role in a couple of tense moments. In addition to committing the hard foul on Tatum that caused his wrist injury in game one, he tripped over Horford late in the second quarter of game two, leading to a minor scuffle that was quickly deescalated.

The Celtics now head to Orlando for game three on Friday with confidence and momentum, even as Tatum’s availability remains uncertain. During the regular season, Boston went 8-2 without Tatum, though both losses came against the Magic — a stat not lost on Celtics fans and coaches alike.

Cavaliers hold off Heat in Cleveland

While the Celtics were grinding out a win in Boston, the Cleveland Cavaliers were busy defending their home court against the Miami Heat. The top-seeded Cavs earned a 121-112 victory to take a 2-0 series lead of their own, thanks largely to Donovan Mitchell, who exploded for 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter.

The Heat made it interesting. Down by as many as 19, Miami mounted an 11-1 run in the fourth to cut the deficit to just two points at 101-99 with under five minutes remaining. But Mitchell quickly turned the tide, scoring in bunches and keeping the Cavaliers in front.

“My job is just to lead every single night in any way possible,” said Mitchell after the win. “Tonight it was go score.”

Garland and Mobley step up, Herro shines in defeat

Cleveland also received key contributions from Darius Garland, who had 21 points, and Evan Mobley, who added 20. The Cavaliers found their rhythm in the second quarter, going on a 20-4 run that included back-to-back threes from Sam Merrill and Max Strus to create a comfortable margin.

Miami's Tyler Herro had an outstanding night in a losing effort, leading all scorers with 33 points. Yet his heroics weren’t enough to overcome the Cavs' well-balanced attack and disciplined defense.

“They capitalized on our lapses,” said Mitchell, noting that the team would need to tighten up ahead of game three in Miami on Saturday. “We've got to be ready for a hostile environment down in Miami and take care of business on the road.”

Both series shift south for pivotal game threes

The next chapter in both Eastern Conference series unfolds later this week. The Boston Celtics beat Orlando in the first two games but now face the challenge of maintaining their edge without Tatum in Florida, while the Cleveland Cavaliers will look to close in on a sweep in Miami.

For Boston, the pressure will be on Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis to continue carrying the load, especially if Tatum is unavailable for game three. Meanwhile, the Magic must find a way to capitalize on their home court advantage and turn momentum in their favor if they hope to extend the series.

Cleveland, on the other hand, enters game three in Miami with confidence, thanks to their ability to execute down the stretch and the steady leadership of Donovan Mitchell. But with Herro heating up and Miami always a tough opponent at home, the Cavaliers know the job is far from finished.

The 2024 NBA playoffs are just heating up — and if these two game twos are any indication, the road ahead promises plenty more drama.