After a tough defeat on the road their last time out, the Celtics look much better today on their home court. They are way out in front with a 96-76 lead over the Magic. The Celtics came into the matchup with some extra motivation after the loss they were dealt the last time these two teams faced off.

The Celtics made 17 triples against the Magic on Friday night. Orlando ended with just 5. The long-range game was the difference.

After Wednesday's loss at Milwaukee, Magic players pointed to an atypical lack of energy at the root of the rout. At Friday's shootaround, second-year guard Anthony Black said games like this one with the Celtics are the ones "hoopers get up for."

The Boston Celtics soundly defeated the visiting Orlando Magic Tuesday night, grabbing a 121-94 victory at home, and turning the page on a bad road loss to the Toronto Raptors earlier in the week. Orlando has one of the NBA's top defenses,

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Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 30 points and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 23 to lead the Boston Celtics to a 121-94 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Paolo Banchero’s return to the lineup for Orlando was supposed to take them from overachievers to contenders. That is a work in progress. The Magic have lost four of their last six. They lost most recently 122-93 Wednesday in Milwaukee. Boston was upset Wednesday in Toronto. The Raptors knocked off the defending champs 110-97.

The Orlando Magic will face the Boston Celtics in this NBA matchup at the TD Garden on Friday, January 17th. WATCH: Magic vs Celtics Live | Stream free on Fubo

The defending NBA Champions are on the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, Jan. 18 when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston.

Boston took advantage of a undermanned Magic squad, missing four rotation players with a dominant offensive effort from all areas of the floor. The Celtics shot a red-hot 61 percent from the field before intermission, helping them build a 12-point halftime lead.

Amid their worst stretch of the season, the Celtics will try to regain their early-season form against the Magic.