Celtics-Magic Preview
The Boston Celtics got plenty of assistance from their reserves to extend their win streak to a season high and a remarkable string of scoring performances.
A chance to sweep the scuffling Orlando Magic in a home-and-home series Sunday night would only seem to aid their hopes of continuing both runs.
Boston (27-21) had seven players score in double figures in a 113-94 victory against Orlando on Friday, including four from its bench. Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart led the way with 16 points apiece as the Celtics' bench totaled 62, its second-highest output this season.
Their reserves also scored 60 in a 116-91 victory in Washington on Monday.
"I think we're coming together well. This last little bit we've played pretty well together, I think, the first and second unit," Olynyk said. "We've had that continuity and just getting used to each other and playing together, and really carving out roles."
In addition to collecting its fifth consecutive win, Boston scored at least 100 points for an 11th straight game. That's the franchise's longest streak since a 12-game run in 1995-96.
"They're playing at a level like we were five to six weeks ago," Orlando coach Scott Skiles said. "They get up, they get into you, they try to make it difficult, and you try to run something (and) they just blow right through it."
The Celtics get another matchup with the Magic (20-25), who have allowed an average of 112.0 points in their last four games. Boston shot 50.0 percent and went 10 for 24 from 3-point range in sending Orlando to its eighth consecutive loss and 12th in 13 games.
"We've got to figure something out. We've got to do it fast or it's just going to keep going south," guard Victor Oladipo said. "We've said it all. We've been saying it all the past couple of weeks, and we've just got to do it. There's nothing more we can say."
Orlando has struggled at the other end of the floor for much of that miserable stretch, scoring 93.1 points per game. The Magic have averaged 101.5 in their four consecutive home wins over Boston while giving up 93.8 per contest.
Oladipo has totaled 41 points and 15 rebounds in the last two visits from the Celtics. He had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a 110-91 victory Nov. 29.
Tobias Harris is averaging 19.0 points in his last five home matchups versus Boston. Harris was held to 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting in Friday's loss and has missed 17 of his last 24 attempts. Oladipo had 11 points and has totaled 34 in his last three games after scoring 29 in his return from a sprained knee Jan. 22.
The Celtics' Isaiah Thomas has averaged 21.3 points and 8.3 assists in his last three games in Orlando. He had 14 points Friday, his fewest in 12 contest, and was averaging 24.5 in his previous 11.
Avery Bradley was held to six points on 3-of-9 shooting against the Magic after averaging 19.3 while shooting 52.3 percent in his previous six contests.
Orlando's longest skid last season was 10 games from Jan. 16-Feb. 4. The Celtics won their final six in 2014-15 for their longest win streak.