After Wednesday's loss at Milwaukee, Magic players pointed to an atypical lack of energy at the root of the rout. At Friday's shootaround, second-year guard Anthony Black said games like this one with the Celtics are the ones "hoopers get up for."

Boston took advantage of a undermanned Magic squad, missing four rotation players with a dominant offensive effort from all areas of the floor. The Celtics shot a red-hot 61 percent from the field before intermission, helping them build a 12-point halftime lead.

The Celtics made 17 triples against the Magic on Friday night. Orlando ended with just 5. The long-range game was the difference.

It was a big game for the Celtics’ stars. Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Kristaps Porzingis scored 23, and Jaylen Brown had 20.

BOSTON — On a possession two minutes into the first quarter Friday night, the Boston Celtics didn’t even attempt to disguise their intentions against the Orlando Magic. With a small forward guarding Kristaps Porziņģis, Boston went straight into a pick-and-roll with Derrick White and his 7-foot-2 teammate.

Will All-Defensive Second Team Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs hit the hardwood on Friday in a rematch against the Boston Celtics? More Celtics: Boston St

The defending NBA Champions are on the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, Jan. 18 when the Atlanta Hawks visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston.

The Orlando Magic faced the Boston Celtics again on Friday. A win by the Magic would give them the season series for just the third time in the last 10 years against the Celtics.

Jamal Murray scored a game-high 30 points, Nikola Jokić registered his league-leading 17th triple-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Aaron Gordon added 16 points off the bench. It was the 18th time in Jokić's career that he recorded a triple-double while shooting 75% from the field (9-of-12).

With a 7-game slate on deck, tonight's NBA matchups promise high-stakes battles and opportunities for redemption. Here’s our breakdown.

Zion Williamson highlighted a 24-point, 14-rebound performance with an array of thunderous dunks during a dominant fourth-quarter stint, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 136-123 on Friday night to open a two-game set.