In a stunning display of depth and resilience, the Boston Celtics closed their regular season with a statement victory, defeating the Orlando Magic 113-108 at TD Garden on Sunday night. The win was all the more impressive considering the Celtics suited up just eight players, resting stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with key contributors like Derrick White.
With their playoff seeding already locked in, this game was a showcase for the end of the bench, and the reserves delivered a performance for the ages. Center Luka Garza, making just his fifth start, erupted for a career-high 27 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 32 seconds left that sealed the win and damaged Orlando's hopes for the seventh seed.
He wasn't alone. Ron Harper Jr., in his first season as a regular starter, matched Garza's 27 points, while rookie wing Baylor Scheierman led all scorers with a career-best 30 points in nearly 39 minutes of relentless effort. Their collective hustle on both ends of the floor embodied a never-say-die attitude, proving that Boston's championship-caliber culture runs deep.
The 56-26 Celtics now turn their full attention to the playoffs, which begin for them this Sunday afternoon at home. Their first-round opponent will be determined by the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament, where the Orlando Magic will face the Philadelphia 76ers for the right to challenge Boston. This gutsy, shorthanded win serves as a powerful final tune-up and a reminder of the formidable challenge that awaits any team visiting TD Garden this postseason.
