Magic end playoff drought if they can beat Celtics
BOSTON — The Orlando Magic — and their fans — have gone the past six seasons without a trip to the NBA playoffs.
The drought could come end as early as Sunday.
It’s a simple scenario: beat the Celtics at TD Garden and the postseason wait is over.
The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on Fox Sports Florida.
The Magic took over the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference with Friday’s 149-113 win over the Hawks. They fell back to No. 7 on Saturday after the Nets scored a 133-128 victory against the conference champion Bucks in Milwaukee. The Bucks played without MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out with left calf soreness.
While the Magic (40-40) and Nets (40-40) share identical records, the Nets get the higher position to an because they won the season series against the Magic to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Pistons (39-40), who were idle on Saturday, are currently eighth.
Still, the Magic would finish the regular season no worse than eighth by beating the Celtics. It would be a victory that would assure them no fewer than 41 wins.
In another possible scenario, the Magic may have a playoff spot wrapped up before they step onto the court in Boston.
The Heat play in Toronto against the Raptors at noon while the Hornets are in Detroit to play the Pistons at 4. Those games should be decided before the Magic and Celtics get underway.
The Magic, who already have made a 15-win improvement over last season, would clinch a spot with losses by both the Heat and Hornets.
In the Celtics, the Magic will face a team fighting for its own postseason prize: home-court advantage in the first round. A win Sunday wraps up the fourth seed for the Celtics, who lead the Pacers by one game.
The Celtics have won three straight and are coming off a 117-97 triumph Friday over the Pacers that gave Boston the season series and the head-to-head tiebreaker that goes with it.
The Celtics have started to resemble the team many thought would contend for the Eastern Conference title this season.
Expect a playoff-type atmosphere at TD Garden.
The Magic, who won 93-90 in Boston early in the season, lead the season series 2-0 and will look to sweep an opponent for the second time this season. They beat the Hawks on Friday to go 4-0 against them.
After the Magic beat the Celtics 105-103 on Jan. 12 in Orlando, Magic coach Steve Clifford said his team would continue to put its focus on the playoffs and give itself a “chance to play meaningful games.”
He was right.
The Magic are in Boston to play arguably the most meaningful game of their bounce-back season as they look to get themselves back to the postseason.