Jamahl Mosley didn’t need to say much before the game. When asked about the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown problem, he just grinned and dropped, “A lot.” That answer? Pretty much sums it up. And honestly, the Magic came in swinging. They were physical, hungry, and ready to scrap. They pushed Boston around on the boards, smothered Jayson Tatum early, made life tough for Jaylen Brown, and locked up the three-point line in the first half.
Paolo Banchero looked like he wanted all the smoke. The dude showed up, ready to shake up a Celtics team that’s been chilling and fine-tuning for weeks. While everyone was locked in on stopping Tatum and Brown, it was Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard who quietly stole the show. They didn’t just step in—they took over. Whenever the Celtics needed a spark, those three found open looks, cashed in from deep, and turned up the defensive pressure like they were flipping a switch.
The stars weren’t cooking, and Orlando actually came out with energy. But instead of folding, Boston leaned into its depth—and that’s the scary part even for Banchero. The 1x All-Star didn’t sugarcoat what went wrong.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s something that as a team, we harped on coming in,” Banchero said when asked about Boston’s depth. “They do have two main guys, but it’s really the other guys that kill you. And so I think we just have to do a better job of getting those guys off the line.”
That was the game plan: limit the stars, contain the perimeter. But it fell apart quickly.
“They really kill you from three,” Banchero added. “You know, Pritchard, four threes, Derrick White, seven threes, Jrue Holiday 3-for-3. So, that’s the game right there.”
While the Magic did manage to hold Tatum to just 23 points and Brown to 17, Boston’s supporting cast lit it up. The Celtics shot 18-of-46 from deep, with their guards doing most of the damage.
“You do a good job on the main guys,” Banchero continued, “but some of the role guys on the wings—they kill you. So we gotta do a better job of taking them away.”
Paolo Banchero on the challenge of guarding such a deep Celtics team:
“That’s something that as a team [that] we harped on coming in. They do have two main guys [Tatum and Brown] but it’s really the other guys that kill you,”
(Question by Marc Spears) #Celtics #Magic #NBA pic.twitter.com/nc0Oa8I1Xa
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) April 20, 2025
That stark admission set the tone for what’s now a must-adjust situation for the Magic. Limiting Tatum and Brown was never going to be enough—not when Boston’s bench plays like this. Game 1 didn’t just expose a defensive flaw, it forced a reset in the Magic’s approach heading into Game 2.
Orlando walked into TD Garden with a plan. They walked out with a loud reminder: guarding the stars is only half the battle. That truth hit even harder when Tatum started giving credit where it was due—not to himself or the reigning Finals MVP, but to the guys who actually lit the fire under Boston.
Jayson Tatum gives his teammates their flowers
Boston didn’t need Jayson Tatum to go full superhero mode in Game 1—and that’s exactly what makes them dangerous. The scoring burden? Handled. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday had that covered. “They’ve built a great chemistry,” Tatum said postgame. “Just two selfless, high-IQ guys that can make plays on both sides, and they really make our team go.” He wasn’t lying.
White lit up the Magic with 30 points, drilling seven threes like he was in a shootaround. He added four boards, two assists, and a couple of blocks just to round it out. And let’s not sleep on Payton Pritchard—dude came off the bench and cooked up 19 like it was an afterthought. Brown quietly chipped in 16 and five.
Meanwhile, Orlando rode Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner like it was a two-man show. Banchero dropped a wild 36 and 11, while Wagner added 23 and five assists. Beyond them? No other Magic player cracked double digits.
Jan 1, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives at Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) in the second half at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
That’s where the game tilted. Boston didn’t need to lean on stars. They won by committee. Depth, chemistry, and execution—that’s their formula. This isn’t the old Celtics squad that lived and died by iso ball. This team feels built for a long run. And honestly? If I’m the Magic, that realization hurts more than the loss.
The post Failed Plans for Jayson Tatum & Co Leads to Harsh Realization as Demand to Magic Locker Room Cleared appeared first on EssentiallySports.