By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With Paolo Banchero dealing with early foul trouble, the Boston Celtics got safe separation and beat the Orlando Magic, 120-89, to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Franz Wagner made 10/22 field goals in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series to finish with a team-high 25 points in TD Garden on Tuesday. Over 40 minutes, he added four assists, four rebounds, and one steal.
“I think we saw how effective our defense is against one of the best teams in the league. They won it all last year. A bunch of close games. Obviously, small margins win these games,” he said in a postgame press conference after the Celtics closed the series in five games.
“Just one or two possessions sometimes can make a big difference. We come here 2-2, it’s probably a totally different game,” the 23-year-old German winger continued, “That’s what’s fun about the Playoffs. We will make sure we get better in the offseason and come back better next year.”
His brother, Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery), finished the 2024-25 journey on the injury list. Another German option for head coach Jamahl Mosley, Tristan da Silva registered three rebounds and one assist in Game 5. Georgian Goga Bitadze did not get on the board.
On the winning end, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis chipped in nine points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal in 21 minutes. Portuguese Neemias Queta put in four points and one assist.
Elsewhere in the Quarterfinals of the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons avoided elimination and reduced the series deficit to 3-2 with a 106-103 victory versus the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden.
Logging 22 minutes off the bench, German Dennis Schroder threw in 14 points, three assists, and one steal. In contrast, Italian Simone Fontecchio and Swedish Bobi Klintman did not play.
For the hosts, British O.G. Anunoby tallied 19 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and one assist. French Pacome Dadiet and German Ariel Hukporti stayed on the bench.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 4-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87, 138-83)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 4-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98, 120-89)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 3-2 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93, 103-106)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103, 119-118)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 1-3 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104, 106-109)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-3 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 3-2 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99, 131-115)
Conference Semifinals (best-of-seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers
Boston Celtics – Knicks OR Pistons
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Nuggets OR Clippers
Rockets OR Warriors – Lakers OR Timberwolves