Celtics Face Play-In Challenge, Eyes on Championship

0:00It's April 14th. From game day to every day, this is Boston Celtics News today, powered by AI. The Boston Celtics locked in the top seat in the East, so their first round playoff foe comes down to tonight's playing clash between the Orlando. Magic and Philadelphia Sixers for the number seven spot. Bold squats stumbled this season with injuries and inconsistency, while Boston boasts the league's second best offense, fourth ranked defense, and A. That rating just behind the top dogs, no matter who wins, the Celts enter as heavy favorites. History backs that up? Since the play and started in 2020, number seven and eight seats rarely push top teams deep, except that painful 20. 23 Heat Run Celtics fans still cringe about. Boston split regular season series with both, two wins a piece against Philly, despite shaky three points shooting early and three out of four versus. Orlando, where they lit it up from deep late. His opponents pack sneaky threats though.

1:00Orlando's crew, led by Jalen Suggs, Paulo Banchero, and Franz Wagner, gets physical on defense and could wear down Boston like last playoffs when the Celts limped out bruised. Philly's banged up bad. Joe embutes out post-apendectomy, but Tyree's maxi and rookie Vijay Edgecomb torch Boston lately, making that back core A nightmare. Dig into clutch time, final five minutes of close games, and both challengers shine, magic tied for most clutch wins at 27. Sixers owned the best clutch defense. Boston went 16 and 17 in those spots, but played fewer in their championship core crushed it last year at 6 and 0 with a plus. 46.9 net rating. Bottom line, Celtics improved big since early losses to these teams. No Jason Tatum then, better rebounding now. Tyree's tips, Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern at TD Garden, Boston's prime to roll deep into May, regardless.