Banchero, Isaac, Magic end Celtics’ 9-game win streak 113-98

ORLANDO, Fla.(AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 23 points, Jonathan Isaac played in anNBA game for the first time in 2 1/2 years and the Orlando Magicbroke the Boston Celtics’ nine-game winning streak Monday nightwith a 113-98 victory.

Jayson Tatumand Jaylen Brown scored 26 points apiece for the Celtics, whomanaged just three points after Tatum’s 3-pointer cut Orlando’slead to 97-95 with 6:20 remaining.

“We guardedin that second half,” said Cole Anthony, who came off the Magicbench with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.“Under 100 points for a a team that’s got two guys (Tatum andBrown) averaging 60 points? That’s a heck of a job by ourteam.”

WendellCarter Jr. had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who beatthe Celtics for the third straight time after losing 10 straight toBoston.

“We had 18turnovers,” said Tatum. who had three of them. “They have long,active guys, and you’ve got to take care of the basketball.”

The Celtics,whose 35-13 record is still the best in the NBA, had not lost sinceJan. 3 at Oklahoma City.

“I think itsays more about Orlando and how they played tonight,” said Bostoninterim coach Joe Mazzulla. “They were physical, they had an edgeabout them and I thought they played really well.”

Isaac missed211 games since tearing his ACL in the NBA’s restart at Walt DisneyWorld on Aug. 2, 2020. He finished with 10 points, three reboundsand two steals, playing about 9 1/2 minutes.

“Much love tothe Magic for sticking with me,” Isaac said. “And the Magic fanswere excited, so I was just trying to bottle all that up in onemoment. It was surreal.”

Banchero made3 of 5 3-pointers and had five rebounds.

“Obviouslyhe’s probably the Rookie of the Year and he’s getting better everymonth,” Tatum said.

After MoWagner’s 3-pointer put the Magic up 43-29 in the second quarter,they went 5:21 before scoring another field goal. Tatum scored thelast six points on a 12-0 run that lifted the Celtics to theirfirst lead of the game, 45-44 with 4:10 left in the first half.

Orlando led55-54 at halftime, then opened up a 13-point lead with the help of3-pointers by Isaac and Gary Harris during a 15-3 run midwaythrough the third quarter.

“I know theycame out and hit some really tough shots early on, but we stayed hecourse from there,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “Then obviouslywe wanted to make sure it was a defensive effort down thestretch.”

TIP-INS

Celtics: GMarcus Smart (right ankle) and F/C Robert Williams III(hyperextended left knee) did not play after getting injuredSaturday night at Toronto. ... G Malcolm Brogdon missed the gamefor personal reasons. ... Tatum went to the Boston locker room with6:47 left in the third quarter with a “cramping on the side of mystomach,” but re-entered the game with 2:04 left in the period.

Magic: FranzWagner had 15 points, seven rebounds and a game-leading plus-17plus/minus ratio. . . . The Magic shot 51.2 overall and 11 for 27(40.7%) from 3-point range . . . Fultz’s slam dunk with 7:49 leftin the third quarter was the first field goal by a Magic startingguard.