The Boston Celtics return to TD Garden for Game 5 with a commanding 3–1 series lead over the Orlando Magic, aiming to close out the first-round matchup and advance deeper into the postseason with the type of efficiency and dominance they have shown throughout the series. Boston’s playoff pedigree, depth, and defensive prowess have made the difference, and despite occasional challenges from Orlando’s young, energetic core, the Celtics have largely controlled the tempo and critical moments of the series. Jayson Tatum has elevated his game when it mattered most, most notably scoring all of Boston’s fourth-quarter points in the pivotal Game 4 victory, while Kristaps Porzingis’ adjusted approach—attacking the rim rather than settling for perimeter jumpers—has provided an important secondary scoring option that has kept Orlando’s defense off balance. Al Horford’s veteran leadership and defensive contributions, including five blocked shots in Game 4, have anchored a Celtics defense that has frustrated Orlando’s shooters and stymied the Magic’s attempts to generate easy offense late in games. Coach Joe Mazzulla’s strategic emphasis on increasing pace, driving more aggressively to the basket, and minimizing turnovers has paid dividends, as the Celtics have managed to keep their composure and execute under pressure, maintaining offensive efficiency even when their three-point shots haven’t fallen at the usual clip.

Orlando, for their part, has fought valiantly, with Paolo Banchero putting together a breakout postseason performance by averaging over 32 points per game, and Franz Wagner adding versatile scoring and playmaking from the wing, but the Magic have struggled with late-game execution, failing to capitalize on opportunities and committing untimely mistakes that have allowed the Celtics to pull away when games have tightened. Defensively, the Magic have experimented with zone looks to slow Boston down, but miscommunications and late rotations have consistently led to open threes and breakdowns that Boston has ruthlessly exploited. As Game 5 approaches, the Celtics’ game plan will likely focus on starting fast, maintaining their physical and disciplined defensive approach, and putting pressure on Orlando’s young stars to perform under the bright lights of an elimination game at one of the league’s most intimidating arenas. The Magic will need to play nearly flawless basketball to survive, cutting down on turnovers, shooting efficiently from the perimeter, and finding a way to slow down Boston’s multifaceted attack while keeping Banchero and Wagner aggressive but under control. Statistically, Boston’s 28–13 home record during the regular season and their strong performances in closeout situations favor a Celtics victory, but Orlando’s talent and resilience suggest they will not go quietly, and a fast start by the Magic could make things interesting. Nonetheless, the Celtics’ combination of experience, defensive sharpness, and superstar leadership places them in prime position to close out the series and prepare for the much tougher challenges that await in the later rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs.