The Boston Celtics host the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 20 to open their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, marking a classic David vs. Goliath showdown with layered intrigue and postseason pressure. Boston enters the series as the defending NBA champions and the Eastern Conference’s second seed after a dominant 57–25 regular season, boasting one of the most complete and balanced rosters in the league. Anchored by All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, supported by the elite perimeter defense of Jrue Holiday, the shooting of Kristaps Porziņģis, and the versatility of Derrick White, the Celtics bring experience, depth, and cohesion into the postseason spotlight. They’ve been battle-tested, motivated by both the pressure to repeat and to rebound from their late-season inconsistencies, which included a few tight losses to teams they were expected to dominate. While Tatum struggled somewhat in the final stretch of the regular season, he remains a lethal scorer and matchup nightmare when engaged, and Boston’s ability to space the floor and defend at a high level makes them a favorite not just in this series but to emerge from the East altogether. Orlando, meanwhile, comes in with nothing to lose and everything to gain after advancing through the Play-In Tournament with a gritty win over the Chicago Bulls. The Magic may be young, but their ascent this season has been driven by a cohesive defensive identity, impressive rebounding, and the two-way emergence of Paolo Banchero, who averaged over 21 points per game and continues to showcase All-Star potential.

Supported by Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., and Jalen Suggs, the Magic bring size, switchability, and an underrated physicality that could give Boston occasional trouble, particularly if they can control the tempo and protect the paint. The Celtics swept the regular-season series 3–0, but the margins were closer than expected in two of those matchups, with Orlando keeping things competitive deep into the fourth quarter. For the Magic to hang around in this series, they’ll need elite execution on both ends—clean halfcourt offense, low turnover totals, and consistent defensive communication to close out on Boston’s shooters and contain Tatum in isolation. Boston, on the other hand, will likely look to test Orlando’s playoff inexperience, blitzing them early with ball pressure and three-point barrages to create separation and force a young team to play from behind. If the Celtics can assert their identity early—spacing the floor, attacking mismatches, and switching seamlessly on defense—they’ll control this series and dictate the pace on their own terms. But the Magic are not to be overlooked, especially given their confidence and chemistry. The stakes are clear: Boston begins their title defense and the pursuit of basketball immortality, while Orlando looks to crash the party, grow through adversity, and take the first step in what they believe will be a long-term contention arc. Game 1 sets the tone, and with the Celtics heavily favored yet facing pressure to perform, and the Magic playing loose with house money, expect playoff tension, highlight-worthy plays, and the kind of physical basketball that defines April intensity.