April 20’s battle at TD Garden marks the beginning of an intense postseason clash as the Eastern Conference second seed Boston Celtics (61-21) gear up to face the resilient Orlando Magic, who fought their way in the Play-In tournamnet to a 7th seed finish after ending the regular season with a 41-41 record.
It’s a classic playoff tale of firepower versus grit, experience versus hunger. Let’s dive into the latest injury reports and what to expect from both teams.
Status of the Celtics Squad vs. The Magic
According to the latest injury report by ESPN, the Boston Celtics will enter Game 1 with a fully healthy squad which is a significant boost for a team looking to make a deep playoff run. The biggest headline? Jaylen Brown who missed the last three games of the regular season due to knee soreness, is set to return tonight, just in time to bolster Boston’s lineup.
“He looks good. He was able to do everything, no limitations. He’s been great, physically, mentally, really preparing himself, ready to go. So, love the week that he had,” said Mazzulla about Brown.
Alongside Brown, Jayson Tatum continues to lead the charge. He exhibited MVP-quality performance, resulting in 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and six assists per game during the regular season. With his versatile skill set and strong leadership qualities, he will play a crucial role as the Celtics aim for early series control.
Derrick White will play an important role tonight. He averaged 16.4 points and 4.8 assists during the regular season while also anchoring the defense with his shot-blocking and perimeter presence.
With a healthy trio of Tatum, Brown, and White, Boston is not just aiming to win but they’re looking to send a message.
Status of the Magic Squad vs. The Celtics
The Magic’s path to the postseason was anything but easy. After a gritty performance in the play-in tournament, where they edged out the Atlanta Hawks, they now face their biggest test yet: a dominant Celtics squad at full strength.
Unfortunately for Orlando, they won’t be entering this matchup at full capacity.
According to the latest injury reports, the Magic squad will be out of two players:
- Jalen Suggs (SG) – Out (Knee Issues)
- Moritz Wagner (C) – Out (Torn ACL Surgery)
The Magic will look to lean on Paolo Banchero, who averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this season. Alongside him, Franz Wagner and Cory Joseph will be asked to step up and keep the offense flowing.
Celtics vs. Magic Projected Lineup for Sunday’s Matchup
With a fully healthy roster heading into tonight’s Game 1 at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics are primed to overpower the Orlando Magic.
Boston Celtics
- PG: Derrick White
- SG: Jrue Holiday
- SF: Jaylen Brown
- PF: Jayson Tatum
- C: Kristaps Porzingis
Orlando Magic
- PG: Cory Joseph
- SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- SF: Franz Wagner
- PF: Paolo Banchero
- C: Wendell Carter Jr.
But wait—don’t get too comfortable just because the Celtics are entering with a fully healthy squad. These two teams have met three times during the regular season, and surprisingly, Boston lost two out of those three matchups.
So while Boston may look stronger on paper, anything can happen tonight—especially in the high-stakes atmosphere of the playoffs.