NBA: Tatum scores 32 as Celtics beat Magic for fifth straight win; Maxey's 38 lifts Sixers past Hornets
Jayson Tatum made 15 of 17 free throws in a 108-97 win in Orlando that extended Boston's streak to five, while Tyrese Maxey led a short-handed Philadelphia comeback.
The Boston Celtics made it five wins in a row on Sunday, beating the Orlando Magic 108-97 behind 32 points from Jayson Tatum. The game tipped off at 4.30am on Monday in Malaysia. A day earlier, Tyrese Maxey scored 38 as the Philadelphia 76ers came from behind to beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-104 without LeBron James or Joel Embiid.
Tatum leads Boston from the free-throw line
Tatum had a game-high 32 points on 8-of-19 shooting and got much of his scoring at the line, where he made 15 of 17 free throws. He also overcame a scare. Late in the first quarter he bumped heads with Orlando's Jamal Cain and went off bleeding, but he returned in the second quarter.
Paul George filled the stat sheet with 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Luka Garza gave Boston a useful lift off the bench and scored the three-point play that gave the Celtics their first lead, 24-23.
Boston did not shoot well from outside. They made only one of their 11 three-point attempts in the first quarter, and Orlando led by nine early on. The Celtics held a 55-50 lead at half-time and opened the third quarter with nine straight points.
Orlando's comeback falls short
The Magic fought back. Anthony Black finished an 18-3 run with a three-pointer that tied the game at 72 in the third quarter, and the score was level again at 79 early in the fourth. Boston answered with an 18-6 run to lead 97-85 with just over five minutes left. Desmond Bane's layup cut the gap to 97-93, but the Celtics closed the game out.
Tristan da Silva had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Orlando, Black scored 23 with eight rebounds, and Bane added 19. The Magic were missing Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac.
Maxey carries short-handed Sixers in Charlotte
Philadelphia rested LeBron James, who has lower-back sciatica, and Joel Embiid, who has a sore right foot, after Friday's win over New York. Maxey made up the difference with 38 points, 19 of them in the first half.
Charlotte led for most of the second half, but Maxey's two free throws with 1:22 left put the Sixers ahead 102-101. V.J. Edgecombe then hit a step-back three to make it 107-101 with 23.8 seconds left, and Jaylen Brown, who scored 16, sealed the win from the line. Anfernee Simons added 19 off the bench. Grayson Allen scored 27 and Brandon Miller 24 for Charlotte, who dropped to 3-4.
Key takeaways
- Celtics 108-97 Magic: Tatum scored 32 and made 15 of 17 free throws as Boston won a fifth straight game.
- Paul George had 17 points and eight assists, and Boston pulled away with an 18-6 fourth-quarter run.
- 76ers 109-104 Hornets: Maxey scored 38 with LeBron James and Joel Embiid both rested.
- Edgecombe's late step-back three and Brown's free throws finished Philadelphia's comeback.
FAQ
What was the score in Celtics vs Magic on 1 November 2026? Boston won 108-97 in Orlando. Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 32 points.
Why did LeBron James and Joel Embiid miss the 76ers' game in Charlotte? Both were rested for injury management. James has lower-back sciatica and Embiid a sore right foot.
What time do Sunday afternoon NBA games start in Malaysia? A 3.30pm ET tip-off, like Celtics at Magic, starts at 4.30am on Monday in Malaysia now that US daylight saving has ended.
Sources: Field Level Media, ESPN, NBC Sports Boston, Yahoo Sports