The Orlando Magic suffered a shocking loss to the shorthanded Boston Celtics on Sunday that forced them into the eighth seed and a matchup with the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Orlando fell 113-108 to a Boston roster that saw eight players touch the floor, none of which were key players. After the game, Jalen Suggs reacted to the loss.

“Running the third quarter was tough,” Suggs told the media. “I think we just dug a hole. You know, I think I'm always looking where I'm going to stand on what I said. I think if I don't turn the ball over that much in the first half and we're able to push that lead from nine to, you know, 15, 16, I think we're looking at something a little different. 

“So, coming on the second half, yeah, I think playing with a bit more energy, with a bit more effort,” he added. “You can always say that looking back on it, but yeah, bro, we can't drop down and we know it.”

The Magic allowed the Celtics to outscore them in the third quarter, 42-20 as the 11-point lead they held disappeared rapidly. By the fourth quarter, Orlando trailed by as many as 16 points. Despite outscoring the Celtics 27-9 in the final period, it would not be enough to overcome a brutal showing in the preceding quarter.

When it came to what was lacking for the Magic in such a crucial game, Suggs attributed multiple factors.

“Yeah, I mean, part of it was our communication, talking to our switches and flares, specifically that chest action,” he said. “And they kept getting to burn us a couple of times. Part of it was them making tough ones. They had a couple of contested deep cherry balls. 

“They were playing very free and, you know, that's part of it, you know what I'm saying? As they hit a couple, we've got to have that game-time recognition, start climbing up in the shooters, start to force, you know, force drives and into our help.”

If the Magic would have won, they would have secured the seventh seed and hosted Philadelphia in the play-in. Now, they must prepare for a greater test on the road when they face the 76ers on Wednesday.

“Another hostile environment, and it's going to be amplified, because it really is a playoff game now,” Suggs said. “Now, it's not just an end-of-season game with playoff implications. These are real playoff games now. 

“So, like I said, we're going to watch this one,” Suggs added. “But going in there, our communication, our intentionality on the defensive end and having a good process on how we're getting good shots on the offense and how we're creating looks, you know what I'm saying, and where we're creating advantages.”

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