Celtics' JV Squad Stuns Magic in Season Finale

Boston's G League-heavy lineup pulls off surprise win over full-strength Orlando team.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:51am

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An abstract, energetic painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the frenetic action of a basketball game, with players' forms blurred and distorted into dynamic brushstrokes.The Celtics' makeshift lineup overcame a double-digit deficit to stun the Magic in a memorable regular-season finale.Boston Today

With all of their regular starters sitting out, the Boston Celtics fielded a skeleton crew of mostly G League players and still managed to pull off a surprising 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic in the final game of the NBA regular season. Led by career-high performances from Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman, and Luka Garza, the makeshift Celtics squad overcame a double-digit deficit and held off a late Magic comeback to secure the win.

Why it matters

The Celtics' decision to rest their top players ahead of the playoffs paid off, as their deep roster of role players stepped up and delivered an unexpected victory over a full-strength Magic team fighting for playoff positioning. This game showcased the Celtics' organizational depth and highlighted the development of their young talent, which could prove valuable in the postseason.

The details

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla opted to sit all of Boston's biggest names, including Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White, against the Orlando Magic. Instead, Mazzulla fielded an eight-man lineup made up mostly of end-of-the-bench players and G League call-ups. This group, led by Scheierman's 30 points, Harper's 27 points, and Garza's 27-point, 12-rebound double-double, overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and held on for the victory.

  • The Celtics had already clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference prior to this game.
  • The Magic will now face the Philadelphia 76ers in the 7 vs. 8 play-in game on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to face the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

The players

Joe Mazzulla

The head coach of the Boston Celtics, who opted to rest his team's top players for the regular-season finale.

Baylor Scheierman

A Celtics player who scored a career-high 30 points, along with 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block in the win.

Ron Harper Jr.

A Celtics player who set a career-high with 27 points in the game.

Luka Garza

A Celtics player who recorded a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double, including the game-winning 3-pointer in the final minute.

Jamahl Mosley

The head coach of the Orlando Magic, who played his starters heavy minutes in an effort to secure a better playoff position.

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What they’re saying

“Mazzulla has championed his team's depth throughout the season, and the Celtics' stay-ready group delivered, beating a full-strength Magic squad 113-108 at TD Garden.”

— Zack Cox, Author

What’s next

The Celtics will face the winner of the 76ers-Magic play-in game in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The takeaway

The Celtics' decision to rest their starters paid off, as their deep roster of role players stepped up and delivered an unexpected victory over a full-strength Magic team. This game showcased the Celtics' organizational depth and highlighted the development of their young talent, which could prove valuable in the postseason.