When one plans a holiday to the Sunshine State, the first thing that comes to mind is Disneyland. But it seemed that all the magic on Friday night was happening at the Kia Center in downtown Orlando. After losing both the opening games in Boston, the Orlando Magic would have had more questions than answers heading to Game 3. In their history, the Celtics are a staggering 44-1 when leading a seven-game series 2-0. The only hiccup came against LeBron and the Cavaliers in the 2018 Conference Finals. The Magic, on the contrary, are a dismal 0-7 all-time in their history when down 0-2. This made it all the more crucial that they make home-court advantage count.

And that is exactly what happened Friday night. They found timely answers to all the lingering questions from Games 1 and 2 to secure a hard-fought 95-93 victory, keeping themselves alive in the series. Franz Wagner led the Magic with an impressive stat line of 32 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. He was backed up by Paolo Banchero, who went off for 29 points. For the C’s, Jayson Tatum finished with a team-high 36 points while pulling down 9 boards. But will the Jays make an appearance today?

The festivities are just getting started in ‘the City Beautiful’, and it is sure to heat up even further come Sunday night. The Boston Celtics have listed Jaylen Brown as questionable for Game 4, due to his right knee posterior impingement. They will continue to be without Jrue Holiday, who is out with a right hamstring strain. With two key pieces missing, the Celtics would be relying on all the others to pick up the slack.

For the Magic, Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner are the casualties. Both have undergone season-ending knee surgeries. Everyone else is fit and available for the home team. Jamahl Mosley would want his players to transfer the intensity shown by them in Game 3 to Game 4.

Game 2 of the series witnessed something that has never happened before – Jayson Tatum missed his first-ever playoff game due to a bone bruise in his right wrist, picked up while driving strong to the hole in the 4th quarter of Game 1. He, however, bounced back on Friday night with a stellar performance, almost single-handedly taking the Celtics past the finishing line. With Jaylen Brown questionable for Game 4, Joe Mazzulla would be looking to his star player, come Sunday night, to carry the C’s on his broad shoulders.

Potential Starting-5 for the C’s and Magic in Game 4

The Boston Celtics have had three different starting lineups in the series so far. The continued absence of Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown’s injury means that the Boston Head Coach may be forced to go with another starting lineup on Sunday. If Jaylen Brown is ruled out of Game 4, he may be forced to start with Torrey Craig at the SG position. The probable starting lineup for the C’s come Sunday may look something like this.

Orlando does not have any major injury concerns through the first 3 games of this series. Everyone is healthy and would be rearing to go to Game 4. It is expected that the Magic start with the same 5 as in Game 3.

The Orlando crowd would be in a frenzy, expecting nothing short of an emphatic victory for their team. Jamahl Mosley will know deep inside that for the Magic to have any realistic shot of toppling the 18-time NBA Champion, his team would have to come up with the W in Game 4. It is sure to be one hell of a ride. Fasten your seat belt, Folks!