Jayson Tatum, Celtics Disappoint NBA Fans with Game 3 Loss to Paolo Banchero, Magic

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics fell short in Game 3 on the road, losing 95-93 to the Orlando Magic, who were powered by a combined 61 points from Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. 

Tatum poured in 36 points with nine rebounds and three assists on 10-of-22 shooting, while Jaylen Brown added 19 points and six boards on 7-of-14 shooting. The duo also combined for 13 costly turnovers.

On the other end, Banchero notched 29 points on 10-of-25 shooting and Wagner delivered a standout 32-point performance with seven rebounds and eight assists to help the Magic claw back into the series.

With the win, the Magic secured their first victory of the series.

The Celtics’ lackluster offensive showing in Game 3 left fans frustrated, as the team failed to maintain momentum from its early series lead.

Tatum came out hot with five quick points, followed by an Al Horford 22-foot three to spark a fast 10-5 Celtics lead in the first quarter. But Banchero answered for Orlando, dropping 13 points to help the Magic sneak ahead 31-27 after 12 minutes.  

Just over a minute into the second, Cole Anthony was hit with a Flagrant 1 after a hard foul on Brown. 

That seemed to light a fire under Boston. 

Behind eight more points from Tatum and nine from Brown, plus a smothering defensive effort, the Celtics held the Magic to just 18 in the quarter and took a 10-point lead into the break.  

Then the wheels came off.

Boston’s starters went ice cold in the third, shooting just 2-of-16 and scoring only 11 total points. Meanwhile, Wendell Carter Jr. powered the Magic with eight points in the paint and Orlando surged back to take a 74-71 lead into the fourth.  

Boston responded in the fourth, erasing the deficit with a 17-5 run. A clutch jumper from Derrick White tied it at 91 with just over 2:30 left. But Franz Wagner delivered back-to-back daggers, pushing Orlando back up by four. 

Another White bucket brought it to two, but with the game and shot clock nearly synced, the Celtics opted not to foul on the final possession. They got the ball back with just 0.3 seconds remaining and couldn't get a shot up.

The Celtics will aim for their first road win of the postseason when they face the Magic in Orlando on Sunday for Game 4.