Celtics vs. Magic: Playoff Preview and Prediction for the 2025 NBA First Round

The Eastern Conference's second-seeded Boston Celtics (61-21) will square off against the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic (41-41) in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. This matchup marks the first postseason encounter between these two teams since the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, when Paul Pierce and the Celtics eliminated Dwight Howard’s Magic.

What We Know About Boston

The Celtics are coming off a dominant 2024 NBA Championship win, and they’ve managed to retain the majority of their roster in a strategic effort to defend their title. It was a hefty investment, but necessary for their goal of maintaining supremacy in the NBA.

Boston's current roster is as battle-tested as any in the league, having reached six conference finals in the last eight years. This team is poised for another deep playoff run, and they feature one of the most complete lineups in basketball.

• Jayson Tatum has continued his evolution as one of the league's elite players. With an impressive 26.8 points per game, 8.7 rebounds, and a career-high 6 assists, Tatum's well-rounded game has made him a frontrunner in the MVP race. His versatility as a point-forward allows him to impact all aspects of the game, both offensively and defensively.

• Jaylen Brown, the reigning Finals MVP, remains a key asset for the Celtics. Averaging 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, Brown’s two-way prowess makes him a pivotal figure in Boston's title defense. However, his nagging right knee injury has been a concern. Despite receiving pain management injections, Brown insists that he’s ready to contribute fully for the postseason.

Boston also boasts a wealth of experienced and talented players, including Derrick White, Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. This veteran presence solidifies the Celtics' depth, with players like Payton Pritchard potentially claiming the Sixth Man of the Year award. The Celtics have assembled a team with no glaring weak spots, and their depth could be the deciding factor in another deep playoff run.

What We Know About Orlando

The Magic started the season strong, led by the dynamic duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Both young stars played at an All-NBA level, and their defense was ranked among the best in the East. However, Orlando's offensive struggles became evident, ranking among the worst in points per possession.

Unfortunately, the Magic were hit by injuries, with Banchero tearing his right abdominal muscle early in the season, followed by Wagner sustaining a similar injury a month later. Their absences threw off the team’s rhythm, but they showed signs of life after returning in late January. Still, Orlando’s offense struggled to generate consistent scoring, especially with Jalen Suggs and Mo Wagner also sidelined for the season.

Cole Anthony emerged as a key player, unafraid to take on scoring duties despite his inconsistencies. The Magic also hoped Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would be a missing piece, but he has been a disappointment, shooting below league average. Wendell Carter Jr. provided a steady presence in the frontcourt, while Jonathan Isaac remained a defensive stalwart. However, Orlando’s lack of a go-to offensive threat has hindered their progress.

Head-to-Head Matchup

The Magic won the regular-season series 2-1, but the context of their matchups makes it difficult to draw any significant conclusions from those games.

• Game 1 saw Banchero and Wagner resting, while Tatum also missed the game due to illness. Despite this, Orlando staged a 15-point comeback and won 108-104, thanks to a game-saving 3-pointer from rookie Tristan da Silva.

• In Game 2, with Wagner missing, the Celtics cruised to a 121-94 victory, with their starting lineup contributing a combined 94 points and shooting 45.9% from three.

• Game 3 featured Banchero and Wagner returning, but Boston rested most of their starters, and Orlando secured a 96-76 win, with their stars not needing much time on the court.

The Forwards: Tatum vs. Banchero

In this series, one of the most intriguing matchups will be between Jayson Tatum and Paolo Banchero. Both are physically imposing forwards who can score from anywhere on the court. Banchero spent much of his time defending Tatum in their previous matchup and managed to limit Tatum’s impact in stretches, though Tatum’s 30-point performance still showed his versatility. These two rising stars, each with their own unique skill sets, should provide plenty of excitement on both ends of the floor.

Jaylen Brown will likely match up with Franz Wagner, another versatile forward with great defensive capabilities. Brown has been one of the league’s top two-way players, while Wagner has quietly developed into one of Orlando’s most reliable performers.

Crunch-Time Lineups

Boston Celtics:
The Celtics have a variety of lineup combinations they can use down the stretch, with Tatum, Brown, White, Holiday, and Porziņģis being the primary closing unit. However, coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned more toward Al Horford in certain situations for his defensive prowess. The Tatum-Horford-Brown-White-Holiday group has been particularly effective in crunch-time, posting an impressive +20.3 point differential per 100 possessions in the fourth quarter.

Orlando Magic:
For the Magic, their most successful closing lineup has been the starting five: Cory Joseph, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Banchero, Wagner, and Carter, who are a +11.5 points per 100 possessions over 216 minutes. However, Jamahl Mosley experimented with Anthony Black in place of Joseph during the Magic’s play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks, with mixed results. The Magic's closing lineups still hold potential, but whether they can execute in the playoffs remains to be seen.

Prediction

While the Magic have talent and have shown glimpses of promise, the Celtics enter the playoffs as one of the deepest and most experienced teams in the league. With a healthy Tatum and Brown, and a wealth of supporting talent, Boston should have little trouble advancing past Orlando in the first round. The Celtics' overall depth and playoff experience will be crucial in this matchup, and despite the Magic's potential, they are likely to fall short in this series.