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Celtics Visit Magic for NBA Cup Opener, Rematch Set for Sunday

Orlando frames the two-game set as a playoff-style adjustment window after recent defensive lapses.

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Boston Celtics v Detroit Pistons
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) shoots the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Atlanta.
A cashier prints out a Mega Millions lottery ticket at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Chino Hills, California, July 28, 2022. The odds of claiming this week’s bonanza US lottery prize are less than one-in-300-million — but one “lucky” convenience store outside Los Angeles is already counting its winnings. A sign above the counter of the otherwise unassuming shop in California’s Chino Hills proclaims itself the “LUCKIEST 7-ELEVEN IN THE WORLD,” six years after it sold a winning ticket for the largest jackpot in US lottery history. (Photo by RINGO CHIU / AFP) (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Tipoff is 7 p.m. ET Friday at the Kia Center for an NBA Cup group game, with TV on NBC Sports Boston and FanDuel Sports Network Florida and streaming on League Pass, Fubo and Peacock; the teams play again in Orlando on Sunday.
  • Boston arrives 4-5 after a 136-107 win over Washington, with Jaylen Brown topping 30 points in four of his last five games, including 35 on Wednesday.
  • Coach Joe Mazzulla has leaned into lineup experimentation, using Josh Minott at center in the last game as the forward posted a career-high 21 points and the Celtics improved to 4-2 since he joined the starting group.
  • The Magic are 3-5 after a 127-112 loss in Atlanta marked by 17 turnovers and hot opponent shooting, and players say the back-to-back vs. Boston offers a chance to adjust like a playoff series.
  • Friday’s game carries NBA Cup incentives, and both sides report absences for the opener with Boston’s Xavier Tillman out for personal reasons and Orlando’s Moritz Wagner out with a knee issue.