The Orlando Magic officially made this a series with their win in Game 3 last Friday. However, now the Celtics hold the upper hand going into Game 5 on Tuesday thanks to their 3-1 series lead. For Boston fans, game 3 probably felt like a hiccup. For Magic fans? Game 4 still felt like survival, like hope, like grit—and it all comes down to how they respond in Game 5.
Game 3 was everything Orlando needed it to be. They came out aggressive, physical, loud, and completely unafraid. They dictated the tempo, pushed Boston into uncomfortable spots, and played like a team that remembered just how good they were at home all season long. They didn’t just win that game—they announced that they’re not going down easy. That was the kind of performance that gets a fan base believing and a locker room fired up. Game 4, though? It was a different story. And that’s exactly why Game 5 now matters more than anything.
Sunday’s Game 4 didn’t go the Magic’s way. They looked tight at times, maybe a little too cautious, like they knew what was at stake and let it get in their heads. Boston, for all their flaws this postseason, still knows how to capitalize when an opponent flinches—and the Magic flinched just enough. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown weren’t necessarily perfect, but they were locked in. They moved the ball, attacked the paint, and knocked down big shots when it mattered. And when it came down to those final possessions, Boston looked like the more experienced team. They pulled away just enough to quiet the crowd and remind everyone why they’re the higher seed.
But here’s the thing. That loss doesn’t erase what Orlando did in Game 3, and it doesn’t kill their momentum—not yet. It just makes what happens Tuesday in Boston absolutely critical. If the Magic want any shot at forcing a Game 7 back home on Thursday night, they need to come out in Game 5 exactly like they did in Game 3: full throttle, no fear, no hesitation. Because if they show up timid, if they wait to see how the Celtics come out before asserting themselves, they’re done. Boston will smell that weakness from the opening tip.
Paolo Banchero, for all his youth, has been impressive. The moment doesn’t seem too big for him, and he’s shown flashes of being the guy you can build a playoff team around. But flashes aren’t enough now. In Game 5, the Magic need him to play like the best player on the floor. Not just in scoring, but in presence. He has to draw attention, take pressure off his teammates, and control the tempo the way he did in that Game 3 win.
And let’s talk about the defense, because that’s where Orlando’s identity lies. When they’re locked in defensively, they can take anybody out of rhythm—including the Celtics. That’s what we saw in Game 3. They forced turnovers, contested every shot, and didn’t give Boston room to breathe. But in Game 4, that intensity came in waves. It wasn’t consistent. They let Boston get into their sets too easily, and when you let a team with that much firepower get comfortable, it’s almost always game over.
The difference between those two games was energy and attitude. Game 3 Orlando looked hungry. Game 4 Orlando looked like a team trying not to make mistakes. That’s not going to cut it in Game 5, not in TD Garden, not against a team like the Celtics that feeds off confidence and crowd energy. If the Magic are going to pull off the upset and extend this series, they’ve got to bring the fight early and often. There’s no easing into this one.
And let’s not forget about Franz Wagner. He’s been one of the more underrated pieces in this matchup, and when he’s aggressive, good things happen. He can stretch the floor, attack off the dribble, and make Boston’s defenders work. But like the rest of the Magic roster, he needs to bring it from the jump. No disappearing acts. No waiting for the second half to get going. Game 5 is the season, plain and simple.
Boston’s not without their own issues. They’re still prone to letting off the gas, and if you’ve watched them over the years, you know they can be vulnerable when they think they’ve got a series under control. That’s where the Magic have to pounce. If Boston walks into Tuesday night thinking Game 4 was a momentum shifter and they’ve got this in the bag, Orlando has to punch them in the mouth early—figuratively, of course. Set the tone, control the pace, and make it clear that this series is far from over.
And that’s what this really comes down to: tone. Orlando needs to set the tone. They need to play like their season’s on the line because it absolutely is. And if they do that, if they can replicate the intensity, focus, and physicality they brought to Game 3, they can steal Game 5. They can come home to an electric Amway Center with a real shot at Game 7 on Thursday. That’s the dream, right? A home Game 7, with everything on the line. But they’ve got to earn it first.
Tuesday night is going to be a test of maturity, poise, and fire. Can this young Magic squad rise to the occasion in a hostile environment? Can they forget Game 4 and channel the energy of Game 3? Because that’s what it’s going to take. They don’t need to play perfect basketball—they just need to play like they believe they belong. No fear. No hesitation. Just fire.
Here’s the thing folks: It’s cliché, but true: the playoffs are about moments. Game 5 is one of those moments. The kind where legacies start to form and teams grow up fast. The Magic aren’t just playing for a shot at a Game 7—they’re playing for belief, for identity, for the idea that this team isn’t just a feel-good story or a scrappy underdog. They’re playing to prove they’re for real.
With that… We’ll find out soon enough. But if Game 3 showed us anything, it’s that the Magic have the tools. The question is whether they have the nerve to use them again when it matters most. Game 5 is waiting. The lights will be bright, the crowd will be wild, and the Celtics will be ready. If the Magic want to survive, they’d better be ready too. Just like they were in Game 3. Because that version of Orlando? That version can force a Game 7 come Thursday. And that version can make things very uncomfortable for Boston.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!