After Game 3 loss, Celtics again question Magic's physical play - ESPN

ORLANDO, Fla. — In Game 1, a flagrant foul by the Orlando Magic sent Jayson Tatum crashing to the court, injuring the Boston Celtics superstar's right wrist and forcing him to miss the first game of his playoff career.

In Game 2, another flagrant foul by the Magic split open Kristaps Porzingis' forehead, requiring five stitches to close the Celtics center's bloody wound.

In the Magic's thrilling 95-93 Game 3 win Friday night, another flagrant foul by Orlando swung Jaylen Brown to the ground, where the star swingman writhed in pain with a dislocated index finger on his left hand.

Through three games of this first-round series, the seventh-seeded Magic have displayed a physical style of basketball that the defending champion Celtics say they believe is over the line.

«There might be a fight break out or something because it's starting to feel like it's not even basketball and the refs are not controlling their environment,» said Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, who finished with 19 points Friday. «So it is what it is. If you want to fight it out, we can do that. We can fight to see who goes to the second round.»

Added Porzingis, who had 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting: «I mean, they're just borderline fouling. That's what it is. Borderline fouling and fouling and some of it, (the referees) call it, of course, and some of it they don't, and that's how it's going to be. We have to accept the reality — and also we can use that. It's not that there's only one way, it's both ways.»

The second-seeded Celtics lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 slated for here Sunday. But Friday proved again that the Magic's physicality has bothered the Celtics.

Boston tied its season-high with 21 turnovers, which led to 26 points for Orlando. The Celtics