The Orlando Magic are the hottest team in the NBA as their winning streak extends, Sunday, after a 95-92 win against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Orlando has now won six straight games.
It was yet another shocker with the victory over one of the league's powerhouse teams as Rookie Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando with 31 points (a career high) and six rebounds to give the Magic their sixth-consecutive victory.
The Celtics played without MVP candidate Jayson Tatum (personal reasons), and the Magic took advantage. Boston shot just 34.8 percent from the floor and didn't have much scoring outside Jaylen Brown, who scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Turnaround of Fortunes
Just over ten days ago, the Magic were the worst team in the NBA at 5-20 and had lost nine games in a row.
It looked like more pain was coming too when they went down by 18 points in the first half against the LA Clippers on Dec. 7. But Orlando rallied to win that game in overtime and have been shooting flames out of their eyeballs ever since.
Ever since beating the Clippers, the Magic also now have wins over Toronto (2x), Atlanta, and Boston (2x).
Even more impressive is that they have done all of that without key players like Wendell Carter Jr. (foot), Jalen Suggs (ankle), Gary Harris (hamstring), and Chuma Okeke (knee).
Orlando still has plenty of work to do since they dug themselves into such a huge hole in the standings in the first place.
More Impressive
With the win, Orlando's six straight, the team has won more games in its last six (6-0) than the first 25 (5-20). It also marks the second straight road victory against Boston. Coming into the two-game series, the Celtics had lost just two games at home. Now, that number is doubled after the weekend.