Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, drives to the basket against Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and Josh Minott scored 12 of his 16 points in the second quarter when Boston shot 81.8% as the Celtics beat the shorthanded Orlando Magic 138-129 on Sunday night in the NBA.
Anfernee Simons added 23 points and Payton Pritchard chipped in with 19 and eight assists for the Celtics, who were coming off a tough home loss to Brooklyn on Friday. Brown also had eight assists.
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Jaylen Brown led the way in a high-scoring Celtics W!
☘️ 35 PTS☘️ 8 AST☘️ 4 REB pic.twitter.com/tWtDMaPjFu
— NBA (@NBA) November 24, 2025
The Celtics nearly squandered a 26-point, third-quarter lead. But, Brown scored 12 straight points. The Magic whittled away at their deficit and closed within six points in the final minute.
Jett Howard scored a season-high 30 points for the Magic, who were missing three of their top five scorers and had their three-game winning streak snapped. Desmond Bane had 18 points and Franz Wagner 15.
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley was back after missing the second half of a victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday due to illness.
Boston connected on 18 of 22 shots in the second quarter, turning a five-point lead after one period into an 80-57 edge at halftime.
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Minott was 5 for 5 from the floor, connecting on two attempts from 3-point range.
Pritchard keyed a quick 10-3 spurt with a steal and layup before hitting a 3-pointer from the right corner 11 seconds later that made it 66-49. He also made a mid-range jumper with two seconds left in the half, capping the Celtics’ 48 points in the period.
Coming off the victory at home against the Knicks, the Magic seemed a bit sluggish and had their franchise record-tying string of eight straight quarters of 30-or-more points end in the opening quarter as they were held to 27 points.
Up next
Magic: At the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday in the second game of a three-game trip.
Celtics: Host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
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