Associated Press

Boston Celtics (22-6, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (18-12, fourth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Monday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Boston visits the Orlando Magic after Jayson Tatum scored 43 points in the Celtics’ 123-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

The Magic are 14-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 10.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Goga Bitadze averaging 2.9.

The Celtics are 20-4 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 10.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Luke Kornet averaging 2.0.

The Magic are shooting 45.2% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points lower than the 45.7% the Celtics allow to opponents. The Celtics are shooting 45.7% from the field, 0.6% lower than the 46.3% the Magic’s opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Franz Wagner is averaging 24.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals for the Magic.

Tatum is averaging 28.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists for the Celtics.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 5-5, averaging 106.4 points, 42.0 rebounds, 22.3 assists, 9.4 steals and 7.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points per game.

Celtics: 7-3, averaging 118.5 points, 49.7 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 7.5 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.7 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Paolo Banchero: out (oblique), Franz Wagner: out (oblique), Jalen Suggs: day to day (ankle), Gary Harris: day to day (hamstring), Moritz Wagner: day to day (knee).

Celtics: Sam Hauser: day to day (back).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

A Boston Police officer who was fired for sending pro-Trump tweets anonymously on Jan. 6, 2021, had his termination vacated by the state civil service commission.

Originally Published: December 21, 2024 at 7:36 PM EST

“We were getting decent looks, but we just weren’t making them,” Porzingis said. “And when you’re not making them, not that our energy was lacking, but it’s just not the same hype. And honestly, they were taking and making some tough shots, and they were also making the open ones.”

The Celtics also saw their worst shooting percentage (39.2 percent) from the field in a game this season, connecting on 38-of-97 attempts.

Meanwhile, Chicago is coming off one of their best defensive performances thus far. They had 56 rebounds and forward Zach LaVine led the offense with a season-high 36 points.

“They played physical,” Jaylen Brown said. “They hit shots. They guarded well. If a team’s hitting shots and guarding well, anything can happen on any given night.”

Sam Hauser is questionable to play with lower back spasms.

Here’s your preview.

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: United Center, Chicago

TV, radio: NBCSB, WROR-FM (105.7)

Line: Boston -10.5. O/U: 240.5.

CELTICS

Season record: 21-6. vs. spread: 10-17. Over/under: 12-14, 1 push

Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 3-7. Over/under: 4-6

BULLS

Season record: 13-15. vs. spread: 14-13, 1 push. Over/under: 16-12

Last 10 games: 6-4. vs. spread: 6-3, 1 push. Over/under: 5-5

TEAM STATISTICS

Points per game: Boston 119.5, Chicago 118.8

Points allowed per game: Boston 110.0, Chicago 121.4

Field goal percentage: Boston .456, Chicago .473

Opponent field goal percentage: Boston .460, Chicago .477

3-point percentage: Boston .367, Chicago .378

Opponent 3-point percentage: Boston .350, Chicago .339

Stat of the day: The victory ended the Bulls’ five-game losing streak against the Celtics, which included a 138-129 home loss on Nov. 29. It also gave the Bulls three straight victories for the first time this season.

Notes: LaVine scored five consecutive points after Boston made it a 99-96 game on a Brown 3-pointer. Two of those five points came on free throws after Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Brown were each hit with a technical foul with 5:12 to play — Mazzulla for walking onto the court and Brown for asking why his coach was given the tech. Tatum also received a technical with 3:10 remaining . . . The Bulls were 19 of 52 from 3-point range. They trailed 57-54 at halftime and 86-82 entering the fourth, but used a 12-0 run to take a 99-90 lead . . . Tatum had 31 points and 10 rebounds but was 10-of-22 shooting from the field.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.

Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.