ORLANDO, Fla. — By all accounts, that was still the Magic out on the floor last night. The Celtic defense, however, rendered the hosts all but unrecognizable.
Orlando came in averaging a robust 106.6 points on 44.7 percent shooting, but the Celts took a 104-88 victory by holding it to 36.3 percent. And that NBA-best 42.1 percent from long range the Magic carried into the game? How about 6-for-29 and 20.7 percent for the evening.
In a battle of league stat superlatives, the Celtics’ No. 1 defensive rating won out, giving them an eighth straight victory and the continued badge of best record in the NBA.