The first-round clash between Joe Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics and Jamahl Mosley’s Orlando Magic has turned into a bruising, hard-fought battle. The Celtics, the East’s No. 2 seed, now leads the series 3-1 following a 107-98 win in Game 4 on Sunday, though that advantage hasn’t come without its share of setbacks.
Mazzulla, in characteristically blunt fashion, downplayed concerns about Orlando’s physical play when asked if the Magic were “crossing the line.” “No one’s been arrested,” he quipped.
“As long as we’re playing within the rules, you have to win in the trenches, rebounding, defending without fouling, all those things go into playing.”
Joe Mazzulla's response when @Drewdle25 asked him if the Magic are going too far with their physicality:
"No one's been arrested." pic.twitter.com/9k3vkZZhAE
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) April 27, 2025
Mazzulla, easily one of the league’s most unfiltered voices during interviews, has even gone as far as endorsing fighting in the NBA. Earlier this season, he openly said he wanted to “bring back fighting” and criticized the league’s harsh penalties for bench-clearing incidents or minor scuffles.
Joe Mazzulla liking the physicality in the Celtics-Magic series
Still, not everyone on Mazzulla’s squad appears to be fully buying into his message during this grueling series against one of the league’s toughest defensive teams. Orlando, which finished second in defensive rating—two spots ahead of Boston—is a young and hungry group chasing its first playoff series win since 2010. Meanwhile, the Celtics, as defending champions, carry the pressure of a target on their backs.
The opening four games have been marked by heavy contact, gritty defense, and emotional flare-ups. Still, the Celtics have emerged victorious in three of those contests, keeping control of the series.
The Celtics have battled through a string of injuries during the series. Jayson Tatum injured his right wrist in Game 1 and missed Game 2 as a result. Kristaps Porzingis sustained a forehead laceration in Game 2 but has continued to suit up. Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday has sat out Games 3 and 4 with a right hamstring strain, and Jaylen Brown revealed he dislocated his index finger during Game 3.
In Game 4, Jayson Tatum powered Boston to the win, delivering a game-best 37 points and pulling down 14 rebounds over 42 minutes to push the Celtics to a strong 3-1 series advantage.
Now, the series returns to Boston for Game 5, where the Celtics have a chance to close the door on the Magic’s season. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET tomorrow. If Boston tightens up its execution, it can regain full control and send Orlando packing, putting an end to the Magic’s playoff run once and for all.
