Celtics Defeat Magic 103-86 in Game 1 Playoff Victory

The Boston Celtics opened their NBA playoff campaign with a commanding 103-86 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 1, led by Derrick White's 30 points and strong performances from Payton Pritchard off the bench. Despite a slow start and a one-point halftime deficit, the Celtics surged ahead in the third quarter, fueled by defensive intensity and contributions from Jrue Holiday, while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had quieter scoring nights. Tatum briefly left the game after a hard fall but returned, and Brown showed no obvious issues from his recent knee injury. Orlando's Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 36 points and 11 rebounds, while Franz Wagner added 23, but the Magic struggled with turnovers and were outscored 55-37 in the second half. The Celtics' ability to generate quality three-point shots and force turnovers overcame Orlando's early dominance on the boards and strong defense. Game 2 is set to take place Wednesday in Boston.