The Boston Celtics closed the regular season with a 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night at TD Garden. The Celtics held out eight rotation regulars. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Nikola Vucevic, and Hugo Gonzalez all watched from the bench.
The reserves played like it was a playoff game, pulling off one of the season’s most memorable wins. Baylor Scheierman scored a career-high 30 points. Ron Harper Jr. added 27 points on his birthday. Luka Garza contributed 27 points and 12 rebounds, including a contested three-pointer with 31 seconds left that broke a tie and sealed the win.
After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked what the performance said about him as a coach. His answer said everything about how this team is built.
Mazzulla Deflects the Credit
Mazzulla refused to take any of the credit.
“It says nothing about me. It says everything about the team,” Mazzulla said. “They are the ones that have to go out and do it. It just proves that we have really good players. Proves that we have a system. Proves that we have a locker room that cares about winning.”
The response was classic Mazzulla. No ego. No self-congratulation. He pointed directly at the players and the culture they have created together. The Celtics rested almost everyone and still beat a team that was fighting for playoff positioning. That does not happen without genuine buy-in from the the roster.
Harper Jr. set the tone before the game even started. He said Garza told the group in the locker room that this was their chance to prove themselves after spending most of the season watching from the bench.
“This is for all the times that we wanted an opportunity,” Harper Jr. said.
GettyBOSTON, MA – APRIL 12: Ron Harper Jr. #13 of the Boston Celtics goes in for a dunk against the Orlando Magic during the second half at TD Garden on April 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
How the Celtics Won It
The third quarter was the story. The Celtics could not miss. Scheierman hit threes from everywhere. Harper Jr. attacked the rim. Garza finished inside. Boston’s largest lead reached 16 points and the energy inside TD Garden was electric.
Orlando fought back in the fourth. Suggs buried a three with under 40 seconds remaining to knot the score at 108. The Celtics called timeout. Garza took the inbound, created space on the wing, and launched a contested three that found the bottom of the net.
The Magic had two chances to tie it. Franz Wagner and Suggs both missed from deep. Boston held on. The Celtics finished the regular season 56-26 and riding a 13-3 run into the postseason.
GettyBOSTON, MA – APRIL 12: Baylor Scheierman #55 and Ron Harper Jr. #13 of the Boston Celtics celebrate during the second half of a 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The Playoff Picture
The Celtics will open the first round at home on Sunday, April 19 against the winner of Wednesday’s play-in game between the Magic and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston enters the postseason with nearly a week of rest and a roster that is the healthiest it has been all year. Tatum has averaged over 21 points per game since his return from the Achilles injury. Brown carried the franchise for months and is playing at an MVP level. The depth pieces just proved they can compete when called upon.
GettyBOSTON, MA – APRIL 12: (L-R) Nikola Vucevic #4, Jaylen Brown #7 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics watch from the bench action against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at TD Garden on April 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Celtics
Sunday night was supposed to be meaningless. The seed was locked. The starters were resting. The Magic had everything to play for and Boston had nothing.
The Celtics won anyway. That is not an accident. It is the product of a locker room that refuses to treat any game as a throwaway.
Mazzulla would not take credit. Though he deserves it. 56 wins in what was meant to be a gap year says everything about the culture that he has instilled.
The playoffs are almost here. Mazzulla’s Celtics are ready.
Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Drops Notable Quote Ahead of NBA Playoffs