Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, right, dunks against Orlando Magic’s Cole Anthony (50) during the first ...

Boston took advantage of a undermanned Magic squad, missing four rotation players with a dominant offensive effort from all areas of the floor. The Celtics shot a red-hot 61 percent from the field before intermission, helping them build a 12-point halftime lead.

Jayson Tatum and the Celtics needed a big win in a big way, and they got one against the Magic on Friday, claiming a 121-94 victory.

It was a big game for the Celtics’ stars. Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Kristaps Porzingis scored 23, and Jaylen Brown had 20.

The Celtics made 17 3-pointers against the Magic on Friday night. Orlando ended with just 5. The long-range game was the difference.

After Wednesday's loss at Milwaukee, Magic players pointed to an atypical lack of energy at the root of the rout. At Friday's shootaround, second-year guard Anthony Black said games like this one with the Celtics are the ones "hoopers get up for."

Anthony Davis scored 24 points, Austin Reaves added 23 and the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 117-96 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points as the Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 121-94 on Friday night. Tatum, a former star at Duke, impressed in front of freshman standout Cooper Flagg and his Duke teammates,

Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 30 points and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 23 to lead the Boston Celtics to a 121-94 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Tatum, who helped lead the Celtics to an NBA championship last season, was recently voted to his sixth All-Star team, making it five consecutive appearances for the St. Louis native. He's also on course to make his fourth All-NBA First Team selection at the end of the regular season.

The Orlando Magic faced the Boston Celtics again on Friday. A win by the Magic would give them the season series for just the third time in the last 10 years against the Celtics.

The defending NBA Champions are on the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, Jan. 18 when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston.