Boston found its finishing touch at the foul line and on defense despite a difficult afternoon from three-point range.
Jayson Tatum scored 32 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 108-97 on November 1. The road victory extended Boston’s winning streak to five games, with Paul George providing a decisive fourth-quarter contribution.
Tatum did much of his scoring without relying on the three-point line. As Boston.com reported, he finished 8-for-19 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep, but converted 15 of 17 free throws. That efficiency at the line helped keep Boston moving when its outside shots were not falling.
The Celtics opened just 1-for-15 from three before recovering to finish 12-for-44. Winning with that shooting profile required other sources of offense, and Tatum’s ability to get to the line gave Boston an alternative to waiting for a hot stretch from beyond the arc.
George scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, helping steady the offense while Tatum rested. His late three-pointer pushed the lead back into double figures, turning a competitive closing period into a more secure finish for the visitors.
NBC Boston’s game coverage notes that Orlando cut the margin to four with 3:59 remaining before the Celtics finished on an 11-4 run. Neemias Queta contributed important late blocks, while Boston’s work on the offensive glass generated additional possessions.
Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva each scored 23 for Orlando, but the Magic could not turn their late push into a lead. Boston’s next stop is Houston on Monday night, carrying a result that showed it could win through free throws, rebounding and defensive stops even when its three-point shooting offered little comfort.
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